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AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 



MEMORIAL 



THOMAS ROBERTS 






The memory of the just is blessed. — Prov. 10: 7. 

He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and 
faith ; and much people was added unto the Lord. — 
Acts 11: 24. 



NEWARK, N. J. : 
Starbuck, Jennings & Bro., Printers, 

1867, 



BXfe4-«*ar 






ERRATUM. 
On page 36, for "John Patterson," read "Jehu Patterson.' 



TO THE READER. 



When the Lord of the vineyard calls from his 
work here to the worship of his immediate presence 
one whose long ministry has shed the light of the 
gospel in various communities, and whose sweet 
consistent character has exhaled a delightful fra- 
grance upon a large circle of friends, it seems pro- 
per that those who remember, with affection and 
reverence, the aged messenger of the gospel, should 
possess a memento of departed worth, which shall 
prolong his influence for good, while it reproduces, 
in those who heard the message of love from his 
lips, glowing experiences of the past. 

At the request of friends and brethren of the de- 
parted the preparation of this volume was under- 
taken, anticipating that contact with his character 
and thought would amply repay the toil. An ex- 
tended examination of MSS., and a study of the 
man from accessible sources, has heightened the es- 
timate of pure christian character, exact theological 
attainments, and rich personal experience of the 



IV TO THE READER. 

whole gospel so richly developed in his sermons 
and his social intercourse. The reader will not be 
detained here with extended remarks upon the 
character of him whom we all "knew to love." Let 
his own productions, and the letters kindly furnish- 
ed the Editor by friends, and published in this vol- 
ume, convey their own impressions. We ought not 
however to omit the remark, that if he did not ac- 
quire the public reputation attained by some of his 
cotemporaries in our denomination, he shone mildly, 
benignantly, and efficiently in the churches among 
whom he went preaching the Word. Now that his 
sun has set upon us, the light of his life still streams 
down to our souls. 

In his early ministry, metropolitan positions were 
within his reach, but his native modesty, and un- 
feigned humility, kept him from places he was well 
qualified to fill. His light could not be hid; im- 
portant fields of labor enjoyed his oversight; his 
brethren in the ministry heard with delight his ex- 
positions ; and many souls converted through the 
instrumentality of his simple melting utterances of 
the gospel, with other thousands edified and com- 
forted by the gracious message, attest that he was a 
chosen vessel, bold to declare the purity and majesty 
of the divine law, affectionately faithful in delinea- 
ting the way of acceptance through the blood of 



TO THE READER. V 

the covenant, and a son of consolation to the af- 
flicted. 

Many will regret that the autobiography ends so 
abruptly, leaving out the record of many most pleas- 
ant and useful years of a long ministry; but the 
circumstances of publication will not afford the 
facilities necessary to fill the gap. It is thought 
best, therefore, to print a few communications re- 
ceived from intimate friends, and then spread be- 
fore the reader some of his sermons, concerning 
which it may be said that, every theological student 
in the land might study them with advantage, as 
specimens of scripture reasoning, apostolic doctrine, 
and fervent appeal. In his early ministry, Father 
Roberts poured forth his Welch eloquence without 
extended notes ; but for the last few years he rigidly 
wrote and closely read his sermons, that he might 
not be embarrassed by failing memory. In this way 
most of the thoughts here presented have been pre- 
served. The memory of those who heard him in 
his ripe old age, will not fail to reproduce the 
venerable form bendiug over the manuscript, the 
tremulous voice, giving greater efficiency to the 
pathetic passages, and the quaint Welch logic, now 
assuming the form of dialogue, now bursting out 
in beautiful allegory, now dramatizing some scrip- 
ture scene; — all tending to convince the soul, to 



VI TO THE READER. 

give it exalted views of Jesus, and simple trust in 
Him, at the same time drawing it to full loving alle- 
giance and service. 

The assistance of the friends who have furnished 
the letters printed in this volume is highly apprecia- 
ted, and the knowledge that many other tributes 
would have been rendered had the scope of the 
work permitted, attests the extent to which he was 
valued. The sermons have been selected with some 
reference to variety of subjects, yet an evangelical 
chain runs through them all. They reveal his mind 
and heart, a man of principle, whose whole organiza- 
tion was leavened with Baptist views, but, holding 
the truth in love, he loved all the blood- washed, and 
recognized them as heirs of God. On one occasion 
an Episcopalian lady was exceedingly displeased at 
a doctrine advanced in one of his discourses ; but 
when asked why she went to hear him so often 
said, "His lovely character, his sweet christian con- 
sistency draws me." 

As his life was a blessing to many, so may the 
perusal of this memorial volume, through the Spirit, 
establish, strengthen, settle the Saints, and lead sin- 
ners to that Jesus, whom he loved and preached 
here, in whose presence he now exults and praises. 

H. F. S. 

Bloomfield, N. J"., March, 1867. 






CONTENTS 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

PART I. 

Parentage and Youth — Comes to America — Marriage — Conver- 
sion and Baptism — Begins to Preach — Visit of Rev. David 
Jones — Hand of the Lord in Providential Provision — Arrival 
at Philadelphia — Residence with Dr. Staughton — Walking to 
Appointments — Extent of Library — Visiting his Family at 
Newark — Call to the Great Valley Church— Settlement 
there. - Page 13 

PART II. 

Chosen a Member of the Board of the Foreign Missionary Con- 
vention — Goes on a Mission to the Cherokees — The Mission 
Family — Description of a Baptism Among the Indians — Sev 
eral Incidents — Oosauti — Manner of Disposing of Their Dead — 
Peculiar Water Ceremony — George Guess ard His Syllables — 
Return to New Jersey. Page 26 

PART III. 

Visits Middletown— State of the Church There— Conversation 
with Jehu Patterson— Settlement— The Work of God— Re- 
marks on Revivals — Characteristics of the Middletown Church 
— Sketch of Labors After his Resignation — Last Illness — 
Departure — Funeral— Action of State Convention and East 
New Jersey Association — Communication from Rev. Dr. Som- 
mers. -...,. . . . Page 35 

LETTERS. 

From Rev. W. B. Harris, page 46 — T. Roberts, page 49 — Rev. 
Dr. G. S. Webb, page 51— Rev. C. E. Wilson, page 53— Rev. 
Dr. Babcock, page 56 — Rev. Dr. Levy, page 60. 



Vlll CONTENTS. 

SERMONS. 

I. 

THE POOR RICH MAN. 

2 Cor. 6 : 10. — As poor, yet making many rich ; as having 
nothing yet possessing all things. - - - Page 65 

II. 

THE RESURRECTION. 

1 Cor. 16 : 12. — Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the 
dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection 
from the dead ? - Page 76 

m. 

A QUESTION CONCERNING CHRIST. 

Mat. 22 : 42.— What think ye of Christ ? - - Page 101 

IY. 

a father's legacy. 
1 Chron. 28 : 9. — And thou, Solomon, my son, know thou the 
God of thy Father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and a 
willing mind ; for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and under - 
standeth all the imaginations of the thoughts : if thou seek 
him he will be found of thee ; but if thou forsake him he will 
cast thee off forever. Page 113 

V. 

THE NATURE AND OFFICE OF ANGELS. 

Heb. 1 : 14. — Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to 
minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation ? - Page 126 

VI. 

satan's devices. 
1 Peter 5 : 8. — Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the 
Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may 
devour. Pa^e 134 



CONTENTS. IX 

VII. 

THE CHUECH — ITS INCEEASE AND PEOSPEEITY. 

Is. 9 : 7. — Of the increase of his government and peace there 
shall be no end. ------ Page 146 

VIII. 

TEAVELEES TO ETEENITY. 

Mat. 7: 13, 14. — Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the 
gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and 
many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate 
and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there 
be that find it. Page 174 

IX. 

THE SHINING DISCIPLE. 

Mat. 5 : 16. — Let your light so shine before men that they may 
see your good works and glorify your Father which is in 
heaven. Page 184 

X. 

SOBEE MINDEDNESS. 

Titus 2 : 6. — Young men likewise exhort to be sober mind- 
ed Page 197 

XI. 

THE GOSPEL BALM. 

Jer. 8 : 22. — Is there no balm in Gilead ? Is there no physician 
there ? "Why then is not the health of the daughter of my 
people recovered ? Page 213 

XII. 

JOSEPH, A TYPE OF CHEIST. 

Gen. 41 : 55. — Go unto Joseph, and what he saith unto you 
do. Page 225 



X CONTENTS. 

XIII. 

THE ONE OFFEEING. 

Heb. 9: 28. — So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of 
many, and unto them that look for him shall he appear the 
second time without sin unto salvation. - - Page 241 

XIV. 

earth's great change. 

2 Peter 3: 6, 7, 13. — Whereby the world that then was, being 
overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and the 
earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, 
reserved unto fire against the day of judgment, and perdition 
of ungodly men. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, 
look fornew heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth right- 
eousness. Page 257 

XV. 

BED D-D YD 1)10. 

An article published in the Examiner, May 19th, 1864 - Page 271 
XVI. 

APPENDAGES OF DEATH AND EESUEEECTION. 

An article probably written a few hours before his depart- 
ure. - - - Page 275 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

PART I. 

[Thomas Roberts was born in Denbighshire, North 
Wales, on June 12th, 1783. His father, who was a 
farmer, died when he was about five years of age. 
Having worked upon a farm from the time he was 
thirteen, until about seventeen, with a few intervals 
of schooling, he spent three years in learning the 
cooper's trade. Before he was twenty he was out 
of his apprenticeship, and after working a few 
months in "Wales, he went to England. Very soon, 
in a way undiscerned by himself, the Lord began to 
direct his steps to the land wherein many labors, 
trials, and triumphs of grace awaited him. From 
this point we read the story of his experience, as 
written by his trembling hand, when age admon- 
ished him to do quickly what his hand found to do.] 



Being bent on going to America, I went from 
Liverpool to Dublin, in the year 1803, and from 



14 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

thence, after a passage of five weeks, I arrived in 
New York in October, 1803. The yellow fever, 
which was then raging, and had swept away many, 
caused the city to be nearly deserted. After spend- 
ing the winter there, in May, 1804, I sailed in the 
ship Lamson for Madras, in the East Indies. After 
a passage of rather more than six months, we arrived 
at our destination. From there we went to Prince 
of Wales Island, near the Straits of Malacca, and 
returned from thence to Madras. There were four 
Baptist Missionaries with us, who came from Eng- 
land to India by the way of New York. They were 
good men and true, and their preaching and conver- 
sation were blessed, I trust, in some measure, to my 
poor soul. After a pleasant passage homeward, we 
arrived at Sandy Hook, on May 18th, 1805. While 
working at Schuyler's Mines, on Barbadoes Neck, 
near Newark, N. J., I formed the acquaintance of 
Elizabeth, daughter of John Rutan, to whom I was 
united in marriage on the 25th of May, 1806. We 
had ten children. My wife was one of the best of 
women, kind-hearted, industrious, pious, everything 
that a wife should be. She was a blessing to her 
husband, a guide to her children, and a mother in 
the Church of God. Having removed to New York 
in the fall of 1806, during that winter I was much 
exercised on the subject of religion. I had experi- 
enced pungent convictions, at times, from my youth, 
but not sufficiently deep to drive me out of myself 
to Christ. I clung to my own righteousness as long 
as I could, until God showed me the utter worth- 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 15 

lessness of my own doings. When no hope remained 
from the law, I was sweetly forced to seek shelter 
from impending rain in Christ, who is the end of the 
law for righteousness to every one that believeth. I 
attended the ministry of Elder John Stephens, who 
was a native of Wales, a sound divine, and, under 
God, a great blessing to me. He baptized me in 
the East River on the 8th of March, 1807 ; the day 
was very stormy, but I felt a sweet calm and peace, 
whose remembrance is pleasant now, after fifty-one 
years have passed away. God be thanked that a 
creature so unworthy was permitted to follow His 
blessed Son ! [I may mention here that in my in- 
fancy I was sprinkled, and marked with the sign of 
the cross, in the Episcopal church; and I was taught 
to say that " I was baptized and made a child of 
God, a member of Christ, and an inheritor of the 
kingdom of heaven," and at the age of fourteen I 
was confirmed by the Bishop in the awful delusion. 
The remembrance of this seemed to ward off con- 
viction, and to lull me into carnal security ; and I 
feel it my duty to warn my posterity against that 
delusive system, which is so opposite to evangelical 
vital religion.] 

A few months after my baptism, I was urged by 
the Church to improve my gift in exhortation. I 
complied, without the most distant idea of preach- 
ing the gospel, though I had a strong desire to be 
useful to the souls of men. But my gift of utter- 
ance was so imperfect, I was ready to conclude that 
the Lord did not design me for a work, to perform 
which I lacked one essential gift. 



16 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

In 1808 I removed to Utica, and united with the 
First Baptist church. The church in ~New York had 
recommended me as a person who had gifts to 
preach, and they insisted on my using them. Being 
constrained to do this, I labored in Utica part of the 
time, and partly in Trenton, and Holland Patent, 
where I was instrumental in the formation of a 
church. Laboring thus for about five years, with- 
out any remuneration from men, by this time I had 
four children to support, and no other means to pro- 
cure them bread but my own hands. I became 
somewhat discouraged. My dear wife said to me, 
" Go to E"ew York, and GTod will open a door of 
usefulness for you somewhere." I immediately com- 
plied with her advice, and began my journey. 

I preached at Albany to the few Baptists that were 
there. They had no meeting-house, but assembled 
in the Court-house. My discourses in the Court- 
house were in English, and in the evening I preached 
in Welch at a private house, with fear and trem- 
bling, endeavoring to show the people the way of 
life through the death of a divine substitute. This 
was in August, 1813. 

Proceeding to New York on Monday, I found Kev. 
John Williams unwell, and both he and the church 
requested me to stay and preach till his health im- 
proved. So I continued to preach for the Oliver 
street Baptist church for several weeks, and then 
concluded to return to my family. The day before 
I started I was greatly discouraged. I had no pros- 
pect of work, and scarcely money enough to pay my 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 17 

passage home. I preached for the dear people in 
Oliver street that evening, ready to depart on the 
morrow. The Lord favored me with his presence, 
and I felt I could trust my Father when all seemed 
dark before me. As I came down from the pulpit 
many of the good brethren crowded around me, and 
manifested such tender affection, that I was melted 
with the warmth of their kind and brotherly expres- 
sions. Deacons TVithington, Caldwell, Bowen, and 
Hewitt were in earnest consultation in a distant part 
of the meeting-house. Soon Bro. John Caldwell came 
to me and said, " Brother Roberts, I wish to see you 
at my house to-morrow before you leave for home." 
So I called, and he put into my hand forty dollars, 
saying, " Go home and arrange your affairs as soon 
as you can, and bring your family to Belleville or 
Newark, and the church will take care of them. 
The brethren have agreed to send you to Philadel- 
phia to pursue a course of study with Rev. Dr. 
Staughton." 

I felt overwhelmed with gratitude to God and to 
His people. I was ready to adopt the language of 
Ruth, and say, " Why have I found grace in thine 
eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, 
seeing I am a stranger?" In making the journey 
to New York, of which I have spoken, I traveled 
on foot from Utica to Albany, a distance of ninety- 
six miles, and during my three days' walk, I enjoyed 
much of the Lord's presence, while trying to pray 
for divine direction, and trying to compose in my 
mind something like sermons to preach to the peo- 



18 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

pie in New York, if they should ask me to talk to 
them about Jesus Christ and the great salvation. 

On the same day that I left Albany for New York, 
in a sloop, the Rev. David Jones, from the Great 
Valley, came there on his way to the U. S. Army, 
under a chaplain's commission from President Madi- 
son. The Baptist friends told him of a young 
Welchman who preached for them on Sunday, and 
from their representations Mr. Jones determined to 
have me for his assistant pastor and successor in that 
ancient church. On his journey to the seat of war, he 
stopped at Utica for further inquiry. He went to 
my house, where the following dialogue passed be- 
tween him and my wife : 

" Are you the wife of Thomas Roberts ?" 

"Yes, sir." 

"What do you here?" 

" This is my home, sir." 

" No, Madam, this is not the place God designs 
for you." 

" Where is the place where God will have us to 
live and labor ?" 

"Your place is the Great Valley Baptist church, 
in Pennsylvania. I am David Jones, Pastor of that 
church, and now Chaplain General of the Army. 
My duty to God and my country calls me to the 
frontier." 

" Have you seen my husband, sir ?" 

"No, Madam, but I heard of him, and made in- 
quiries. You tell him for me, when he returns, to 
come without delay to the Great Valley, and he will 
be kindly received." 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 19 

My dear wife's faith was greatly strengthened. 
She felt that the Lord had a work for us, in a field 
where I conld give my whole time to the ministry 
of reconciliation. 

I went home with a glad heart, and related to her 
my reception by the good brethren in E"ew York, 
and their kind offer to send me to school to Dr. 
Staughton, to pay my board, and give me $100 a 
year besides during my stay. Yea, moreover, (said 
I,) they provided that you and our dear children 
shall not want. One of those dear brethren will 
visit you once a month to see that you are comforta- 
bly supplied. We were overcome with a sense ot 
God's goodness in putting such love and benevo- 
lence into the hearts of his people toward a poor 
stranger. 

Then my wife told me of Bro. Jones' visit, and 
the message he left for me. Surely the darkest hour 
of the night is just before the dawn. The Great 
Valley church is sixteen miles from Philadelphia, 
just a pleasant walk on Saturday afternoon, after a 
hard week's study, and I can supply them, if the 
church wish it after hearing me. Surely there is a 
wheel within a wheel in the mysterious machinery 
of Providence. why should I distrust Him any 
more ? For goodness and mercy have followed me 
all the days of my life. Though I, a poor, short- 
sighted creature, could not always see Him, yet 
surely God was always watching over my path ; and 
when He saw me inclined to the wrong track, His 
voice from behind me would say, " This is the way, 



20 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

walk tliou in it." Leaving our little cottage, we 
came to !New York, and after engaging a small tene- 
ment for my family, I made my way to Philadel- 
phia. I was most kindly received by that dear man 
of God, Dr. Staughton, whose fatherly kindness I 
can never forget. I remember also, with pleasure, 
Mrs. Staughton, and her maternal tenderness and 
solicitude for the welfare of the students whom the 
fame of the Doctor had attracted to his feet to listen 
to the lucid instructions which few like him had 
the faculty to impart. 

I found four young brethren under instruction, 
Sommers, Barton, Patterson and Paradise. We spent 
the time in the most arduous, yet pleasant and pro- 
fitable studies, for we could not look forward then, 
as young men can now, to long years of mental 
training. 

Soon after my arrival in Philadelphia, Jonathan 
Phillips, one of the deacons of the Great Valley 
church, called, and requested me to preach for them 
the next Sabbath. After hearing me, the church 
requested me to supply them once a fortnight dur- 
ing my stay in Philadelphia. I gladly consented, 
with thankfulness to my heavenly Father for open- 
ing to me a door to preach a rich Saviour to my 
poor fellow sinners. I had made up my mind not 
to ask any church for a reward for my labor, my 
chief desire being to glorify my Saviour and win 
souls. Now, especially, after witnessing the late 
interpositions of divine Providence and grace, I 
could not distrust God nor his dear people. He who 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 21 

gave his life for me will not surely withhold from 
me and mine a little bread to strengthen us to do his 
will. O for grace to do it with a single heart, and 
confide in Him forever ! And now, after an experi- 
ence of half a century, I can say for the encourage- 
ment of my children and others, that the Lord hath 
not left me nor forsaken me, though with shame 
and grief I confess that I have been dilatory and un- 
faithful in his service. 

For a whole year I walked to my appointments 
on Saturday evening; and though there was no 
agreement, yet the good old Deacon Jones invaria- 
bly put in my hand, as he shook it, a five dollar 
bill, as if afraid that anybody but God and myself 
should know it. The bounty of the church was 
amply sufficient to spare me the walk of thirty-two 
miles, but the King, my Master, never rode but 
once, and then on the humblest beast of burden 
which his own hand had formed. If I had been de- 
sirous of imitating him in this particular, the Phila- 
delphians were above keeping any of the humble 
race for their own use or to let. It became a ques- 
tion with me how I should use all the money that I 
received for preaching. I concluded to enlarge my 
library, which consisted then of two Bibles, (Welch 
and English,) Butterworth's Concordance, Boston's 
Four-fold State, Alleine's Alarm, and Rippon's Se- 
lections. In a few months I had a shelf loaded with 
about eighty volumes, many of them small in size, 
but weighty with truth, extracted by skillful miners 
from the rich gold deposits of the covenant of grace, 



22 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

with many bright gems found in the garden, and 
along the dolorous way to the middle cross on Cal- 
vary. Thus I tasked my feet to supply, in some 
small degree, the void of my brains. 

I visited my family in Newark every three months, 
always on foot, which saved me ten dollars every 
journey, while it gave me opportunities by the way 
to fulfill my Saviour's injunction, " As ye go, preach." 
This economical plan I have pursued through life, 
and under God it has been a great blessing to me 
and to my family, as well as to the churches to which 
I preached the gospel. I have never wanted a dol- 
lar to meet my engagements, or to aid the cause of 
benevolence ; and after many years of experience, I 
attest the truth of that saying of our gracious Jesus, 
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." And 
now, from my heart, I recommend to my posterity 
and to all others — especially to young ministers— ^to 
pursue a course of self-denying industry and frugal- 
ity, which will save from a world of anxiety, from 
dishonoring God and his cause, and from the tempta- 
tion to descend to a dishonest or mean act. But to 
return to my narrative. There was such a scarcity 
of ministers, at that time, among the Baptists, that 
before the expiration of six months a church in New 
York city extended an invitation to labor among 
them. I consented after the expiration of my year 
in Philadelphia; but in the mean time the Great 
Valley church urged her prior claim, to which I 
yielded, preferring an humble, obscure corner in the 
vineyard, to which my attainments and gifts were 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 23 

better adapted. We removed to the Valley in the 
dead of winter, and the house of worship was so 
large, and the congregation so small, that I fixed on 
four school-houses, about four miles from the meet- 
ing house, in each of which I preached monthly, in 
the afternoon, and in a number of other places on 
week evenings. This measure soon filled the meeting- 
house to overflowing. A precious revival succeeded 
my ordination, in the spring, which continued for 
seven years. The work was quiet and gradual, a 
small but constant stream of precious souls flowing 
into the church, until the number was about trebled. 
During the whole period there was nothing to mar 
the sweet peace and tranquility of the body. Our 
church meetings were invariably spent in praise and 
prayer, in relating experience, and exhortations. 
We realized that the best business meetings for a 
church are those wherein the members meet with 
one accord to transact business with God. Such 
have the peace of God, which passeth all under- 
standing. 

During the eight years that I labored with that 
dear people, I do not recollect that money matters 
were ever broached at the meetings. One of the 
deacons told me that I should have $240 a year, and 
the use of the Parsonage. I said, very well, and 
that was all that was said on the subject. Deacon 
Phillips promptly put that sum of money in my 
hand when it was due. Besides this we received 
many valuable presents. I mention these trifling in- 
cidents to show to the generation to come the quiet 



24 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

and unostentatious way in which the Baptists of old 
times managed their affairs. Then no minister left 
his charge for want of more salary. There were 
very few changes, and when these occurred they 
were for other reasons than a lack of income. 

The original membership of that ancient church 
were Welchmen, who planted the gospel standard 
there in the time of William Penn. For one or two 
generations they, like many other Baptist churches 
in the lower counties of Pennsylvania, maintained 
the worship of God in their own language. Al- 
though after that they adopted the English language, 
they still held with firm grasp the old Baptist faith 
and practice. Every preacher among them was a 
missionary, when as yet there were no missionary 
societies ; and through these ministers the truth was 
sounded out throughout the British possessions, and 
Jesus was with them according to his promise. 
Through their labors, from ISTew York to the Savan- 
nah river, churches were planted on pure apostolic 
principles ; and these have spread their verdant and 
fruitful branches over the land, laying the founda- 
tion of civil and religious liberty, which few under- 
stood so well, and asserted with more boldness, than 
those "Welch Baptists. While Roger Williams and 
his brethren were diffusing the light and enduring 
the rage of oppressors in New England, the Jen- 
kinses, the Joneses and the Morgans were wafting it 
to the remotest settlements of the South. 

While I was in Philadelphia " The Baptist Gene- 
ral Convention for Missionary Purposes" was organ- 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 25 

izecl in that city. Dr. Staughton was one of the 
most active in the enterprise, and he infused the 
missionary spirit into the students under his care. 
The Valley church was among the first to respond 
to the call for aid to send a reinforcement to Brother 
Judson, that he might take possession of the Bur- 
man Empire in the name of Jesus Christ. The sis- 
ters of that church formed themselves into a society, 
which contributed annually $130 for that object, and 
the church sent enough to entitle them to a dele- 
gate at the Convention, which shows that they were 
not unfruitful in good works. 



PART II. 

As I resided near Philadelphia, I was chosen a 
member of the Acting Board of the Foreign Mis- 
sionary Convention. In 1821 the Board urged me 
to raise a company to go to the Cherokee nation of 
Indians to preach the gospel, establish schools, and 
teach them the useful arts of civilized life. After 
due deliberation I consented to go, and soon set out 
with two teachers, a blacksmith, a farmer, and two 
young men, and two sisters as assistants at the es- 
lishment. Elder Posey, of North Carolina, had 
been there for some time erecting the necessary 
buildings for the school and families. After a jour- 
ney of more than one thousand miles, the party 
arrived at the station in health and safety. We 
soon gathered a school of seventy-five children and 
adults, who made good progress in letters and agri- 
culture. The first year we raised, with the assist- 
ance of the Indian children, between two and three 
thousand bushels of corn, and seventy hogs, which 
furnished us all with ample food for the year. The 
children were docile and kind, easily governed, and 
quick at learning — especially those who understood 
English. Some of the small ones were addicted to 
cry in school; perhaps the little creatures were 
homesick. However, the remedy for this and other 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 27 

faults was very cheap and easily applied. A spoon- 
ful of cold water dashed in the face would stay the 
tears, and hush the noise at once. Brother Evan 
Jones taught the boys, and Miss Elizabeth Jones 
the girls. Reading, writing, arithmetic, plain sew- 
ing, and ornamental needle-work were the branches 
pursued. 

Bro. Evan Jones is a native of Wales, whom I 
baptized two weeks before we started on the mission. 
Our instructions were imparted through interpret- 
ers, who were graceless, and ignorant of divine 
things, yet with all our imperfections the Holy Spirit 
was pleased to open the hearts of some of the young- 
people under our care, and let into their dark minds 
some bright rays from Jesus Christ, the Sun of 
Righteousness. Several were made willing in the 
day of God's power, and related experiences which 
fully satisfied us of their conversion. While we 
were consulting concerning a place to baptize, seve- 
ral young men overheard us; and without our 
knowledge they went to the river bank and with 
their axes cleared away the brush, and prepared a 
beautiful and eligible place. They had never seen 
the ordinance administered, nor heard us describe 
it; but they had read the New Testament, and 
seemed to understand where and how the blessed 
ordinance was to be observed. How disappointed 
and astonished these converts from heathenism 
would have been if we had called for a basin of 
water to sprinkle them ! They would have indig- 
nantly refused to submit, or would have lost all con- 



28 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

fidence in our sincerity, for we had often told them 
the "Word of God is our only rule of faith and prac- 
tice. They, like all other converts who are not 
biased by false reasonings, wished to follow their 
Saviour. On a beautiful Sabbath morning hundreds 
of Indians were wending their way to the beautiful 
Hiawassee to see the first fruits of their nation 
planted in the likeness of Jesus' death, and raised 
in the newness of life after his resurrection. We 
saw no visible dove descending, as when Christ rose 
from the baptismal stream ; but we saw and heard and 
felt the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. We 
saw the big rolling tears chasing one another down 
the furrowed cheeks of old Indian warriors, who 
never since their manhood wept before. We heard 
the prayers of young converts who, emboldened by 
the Spirit of God, cried aloud for a blessing to de- 
scend on their benighted nation. We felt, as we 
never felt before, that God had a blessing with 
which to enrich the poor neglected Indian race. 
Since that day thousands of happy converts have 
followed the Saviour down into the baptismal 
stream, and for many years a large association of 
Baptist churches has existed among them, with 
faithful Pastors, whom God raised from among 
themselves to feed them with the Word of truth. 
The faithful veteran missionary, Rev. Evan Jones, 
still lives and labors among them, nourishing them 
as a father does his children. He never forsook 
them, but stood by them in all their trials and per- 
secutions. He is now one of the oldest, and among 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 29 

the most prudent, peaceful and indefatigable labor- 
ers in the Baptist missionary field. His son, the 
Bev. John Jones, was born among the Indians, and 
after a thorough preparation in one of our best Uni- 
versities, he is now revising the New and translating 
the Old Testament into the Cherokee language. 

I here mention a few other incidents of my ex- 
perience among the Cherokees. There was one, 
Oosauti, who on account of his meekness and wisdom 
was chosen by his neighbors to represent them in the 
Grand Council of the nation. When this man, who 
was totally ignorant of the English language, heard 
of a school opened for the instruction of his people, 
at the valley towns, he came on foot thirty miles to 
find out whether he could enter as a scholar. He 
had a large family, and would be obliged to work 
and raise corn in the summer for their support, 
while he could only attend school in the winter. In 
the course of two winters he made some progress in 
reading, but very little in understanding what he 
read. He came to my cabin in the early Spring and 
said he wished to go home to plant corn. I told 
him it was too soon to plant, he might stay two 
weeks longer. He said he was discouraged. He 
had been in school two winters, and was no nearer 
the object he so much desired than when he first 
came. "I can read some in the Great Book," said 
he, " but I do not understand the language. I want 
to know how I can be saved." I told him it was 
not necessary to know the English language in order 
to know the way of salvation. He brightened up and 



30 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

said, " Can I know it ?" " Oh yes, Oosanti. If you 
stay two weeks longer, and come to my cabin every 
evening, we will endeavor to teach you the way of 
life in your own language." He was glad, and con- 
sented to stay. I told Bro. Jones what had passed, 
and made it a subject of prayer that the Holy Spirit 
would bless our efforts and shed light on his dark 
mind. The next night Brother Jones, Oosauti, and 
two of the young men, as interpreters, came. "We 
began with God, and then with the man. After a 
general outline of the creation, the fall, the promise 
of a Saviour, and the sending forth of God's Son in 
the fullness of time, Oosauti seemed amazed, and 
asked, " In what nature did God send his Son into 
the world ?" This opened a wide field for explana- 
tion, and from that moment the Holy Ghost seemed 
to open his heart, and he began to drink at the well 
of salvation. The next evening he came again, with 
a shining countenance, indicating the state of his 
heart. Sorrow had given place to joy and gladness, 
for he had found Him of whom Moses, in the law, 
and the Prophets did write. Early the next morn- 
ing he came and said, " I must go home to-day, and 
tell my wife and family how happy I feel — that I 
have found the Saviour, and that they may find him 
without learning the white man's language." 

" Well, Oosauti, what will you do when you go 
home ?" 

" I will call the people together, and have a meet- 
ing, and tell them all I know of God, and Jesus, my 
Saviour. I will pray, and sing the Cherokee hymns 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 31 



that I learned at school, and I will read the chapters 
that yon and Mr. Jones have translated." 

Oosanti did as he purposed in his heart, and with 
good results. Here is another proof that a mission- 
ary spirit, and the spirit that changes the heart, is 
one and the same. 

The Indians were accustomed to dispose of their 
dead on the surface of the ground, near a public 
pathway, and throw over the body a heap of loose 
stones. Each passer-by picked up a stone, and cast 
it on to augment the pile. We frequently advised 
them to bury their dead in the ground, and offered 
our services to bury a woman who was supposed to 
be nearly a hundred years old at her decease. The 
family having accepted our offer, we conveyed a 
plain coffin to the house of mourning. The body lay 
without the doors. The daughters and grand- 
daughters were in the house performing the cus_ 
tomary lamentations. There were about twenty-five 
females, of different ages, uttering the most touch- 
ing lamentations that we ever heard, while their 
tears dropped like rain over their tawny cheeks. 
Their words forcibly reminded us of David's lament 
over Absalom. The eldest daughter seemed to take 
the lead, beginning in the most plaintive and pa- 
thetic tones, " My mother, my mother, why hast 
thou left us? 0, that we had died for thee!" &c. 
All the females joined in heart-melting chorus. 
The men were pensive, silent and solemn. After 
about a half hour of wailing, a man whom we sup- 
posed to be the eldest son, took a dish of cold water, 



32 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

and slowly entering the cabin, he presented it to his 
eldest sister, who reverently immersed her hands 
and wet her face ; as her hands touched the water, 
she ceased her wailing. The dish was passed to all, 
and they were as silent as the grave. 

A question might here be proposed to those who 
are versed in natural philosophy : "Why does a lit- 
tle water dashed in the face of an Indian child hush 
his crying, while a little water sprinkled on the face 
of a white child, in the ceremony wrongly called 
baptism, almost always make the babe cry ? The 
question may be very interesting to congregations 
that are often annoyed in the house of God at # the 
reception of their infant members.* 

Here I will refer to a wonderful interposition of 
Providence, which raised the Cherokee churches 
from barbarism to a state of comparative civiliza- 
tion, and general knowledge of letters, so that the 
whole people could acquire the art of reading God's 
"Word in a few days. While we were engaged, day 
and night, in forming an alphabet of Roman letters 
adapted to the language, and translating the Sunday 
School Spelling Book into Cherokee, there was an 
illiterate Indian, named George Guess, busily en- 
gaged in the same work. We were entirely igno- 
rant of him and the object which occupied his heart 
and hands. While we used our slates and pencils, 



* The annoyance is now not so frequent and so great as formerly, from the 
fact that fewer babes are sprinkled, and it is done for the most part at the less 
prominent meetings, or in the privacy of the household— a confession of its 
unpopularity among those even in whose creeds it is inserted.— Ed. 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 33 

Mr. Guess (poor man) had nothing better than a 
black coal from the hearth and a shingle to make 
the heaven-inspired marks that, in God's Provi- 
dence, were destined to remove, in a very short time, 
the black marks of sin and ignorance from the 
tribe, and lead them by easy steps into the know- 
ledge of Bible truth. 

The system consists of eighty-four characters, 
each of which represents a syllable, and that number 
of syllables, by their innumerable combinations, form 
one of the most beautiful and comprehensive lan- 
guages uttered by the human tongue. 

An edition of our translated Spelling Book was 
published by Bro. Gray, in New York, and hailed 
by the Indians as the day-star ; but just then the 
new system was brought to the notice of the Coun- 
cil, who rewarded Guess for the invention. It im- 
mediately superseded all the incipient attempts of 
the Missionaries, and they gladly adopted the syl- 
labic alphabet in all their ensuing productions and 
translations. The Missionary family and school 
were large, and the treasury of the Convention was 
low ; it was, therefore, deemed necessary for me to go 
to the Middle States to solicit help, and reduce the 
school to fifty. Since the introduction of the new 
system, English education was not deemed so neces- 
sary, for the people could now obtain a knowledge 
of divine things through their own language. The 
Mission was conducted with the most rigid econo- 
my, each family being allowed $240 a year for sup- 
port. This was a small sum for the subsistence of 



34 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. - 

six or eight persons, yet we managed, by hard labor, 
to make it do, rather than be burdensome to our 
brethren and sisters, who gave out of their deep 
poverty. At the commencement of the Missionary 
enterprise, self-denying economy was the order of 
the day. Dr. Staughton, who performed the double 
office of Home and Foreign Secretary, refused to 
receive compensation. Afterward, however, at the 
urgent solicitation of the Board, he consented to ac- 
cept the sum of $400 a year for services which few, 
if any, could do so well. I have often seen him sit 
down at nine o'clock in the evening, after a day of 
hard toil, and write from twelve to twenty letters 
before he retired. There was scarcely a minister in 
all the land that he did not address on the great 
subject of missions. His own soul glowed with 
missionary zeal, and he was eminently blessed in 
kindling the holy fire in the hearts of all Christians 
that came in contact with his words or his epistles. 
The Board had only one Collecting Agent, whose 
field extended from Maine to Georgia. I believe 
his only salary was the payment of his expenses. In 
this self-denying spirit the Baptists began their mis- 
sions to the heathen. May we not venture the opin- 
ion, that if the same self-sacrifying spirit had con- 
tinued among us, instead of having less than eighty 
laborers (of our own countrymen and women) in 
the great field which our Master gave us, we should 
to-day have five hundred faithful men, reaping the 
spiritual harvest and gathering fruit unto eternal 
life. 



PART III. 

While traveling among the churches in E"ew 
York and New Jersey, to solicit aid for the Mission 
among the Cherokees, the friends in New Bruns- 
wick suggested that I should visit Middletown. I 
was received with great kindness and generosity, 
and as they had no pastor, they requested me to stay 
and preach a few weeks for them. Meetings were 
appointed in different places through the week, and 
crowds of anxious listeners attended. The last 
pastoral relation had been unfortunate, and through 
it the church had fallen into difficulty. There were 
dissensions among themselves on account of Mr. 
King, their late pastor, who left the place very ab- 
ruptly, without settling with his creditors, and 
brought reproach on the Church of Christ. Iliad 
no idea of returning to Middletown, and before I 
left I exhorted the brethren to endeavor to keep the 
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. After I 
arrived in New York, the church sent a request for 
me to visit them again and break bread at their next 
communion season. I complied, and after a few 
pleasant meetings, Judge Patterson, one of the vene- 
rable deacons, told me that the church and congre- 
gation unanimously desired me to become their 
pastor. I answered, that after I had asked counsel 



36 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

of God and my brethren in the ministry, I would 
visit them again and give the church my decision. 
I told him, moreover, that such, was my love of 
peace and harmony among brethren, that I could 
neither labor nor live where they were absent. He 
said that all their disagreement was concerning Mr. 
King. Some said, he is a good man and true ; oth- 
ers said, he is an impostor, and deceived us. Bro. 
Patterson went on to say, " This imposture is evi- 
dent, and is becoming more so every day, so that 
soon all will be convinced of the deplorable fact." 
As he said, so it came to pass, and all were quiet 
and happy to know that their "King" had fled, and 
glad to see the good old Baptist republic restored 
to the ancient church. 

The following conversation was held between me 
and Bro. John Patterson, as we stood near the meet- 
ing-house, in what is now called Holmdel : 

"Bro. Roberts how much is needful to support 
your family, consisting of yourself, your wife, and 
seven children?" 

I said, " I do not wish to make religion a burden 
to any people. If the church will give me $300, 
with the parsonage and firewood, we will try to 
make it do." 

He replied, " We can do that and more." 

However, I never requested any more during the 
period of about twelve years that I labored among 
them. 

The conduct of my predecessor left a dark cloud 
on the cause of religion throughout the whole vicin- 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 37 

ity. Yet tlie Lord was much better to us than our 
fears, and sooner than we expected He dispelled the 
gloom and united the hearts of the membership as 
the heart of one man. Then the brethren and 
sisters, walking in the fear of G-ocl and the comfort 
of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied. The Lord was 
pleased to bless the word of His grace, and made it 
the power and wisdom of G-od to the salvation of 
many precious souls. From year to year, without 
any extra effort to produce excitement, the gospel 
was preached with great plainness and simplicity, 
and the Lord added to the church of such as He de- 
signed to save. There were constantly in the con- 
gregation some who were inquiring the way to Zion. 
Yet none were urged to join the church, but all 
were exhorted to come to Christ by faith, and find 
rest to their souls. Then they came of their own 
accord, gladly following the Lord Jesus in his ap- 
pointed ways. 

This was prior to the time of what are popularly 
called " Protracted Meetings." Then the revival 
streams ran slow and deep, indicated by the half- 
suppressed sigh and falling tears. The converts ap- 
plied for baptism and a place in the church, because 
they felt they " could not stay away." The church 
seldom trembled at the reception of candidates who 
came with fear lest they should deceive themselves 
There is no reason to fear for those who trust in the 
Lord, and have no confidence in the flesh. I do not 
remember that any who came with broken hearts 
and humble spirits, trusting in the finished work of 
2 



d» AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

Jesus, dishonored their profession, or were brought 
under the censure of the church. At the same 
time I do not disapprove of protracted efforts to 
persuade men to forsake their sins and turn to the 
Lord. Christians cannot be too earnest or protracted 
in prayer for the salvation of sinners ; nor too plain 
and pointed in pressing the truth on their consider- 
ation. The danger lies in encouraging to profes- 
sion before good evidence of possession. Faith of 
the heart must precede confession with the mouth 
unto salvation. Sinners under deep, pungent con- 
viction are glad to receive any respite and ease to 
their wounded spirit. Let Christians beware lest 
sympathy with their distress lead to speak to them 
words of peace before the hard heart is sufficiently 
subdued. " Ileal not the wound of the daughter of 
my people slightly." Against God they have sinned, 
and it \& his prerogative to speak peace to them ; 
this He will not do until the giant, Enmity, is slain. 
Joseph's heart yearned over his brethren when he 
heard them confessing their hardness of heart to- 
ward their innocent brother, when he besought 
them and they would not hear. Joseph heard them 
and wept ; but he would not speak peace to them 
yet. Their trouble must be greater, even over- 
whelming, so that they could bear no more. Then 
he said to them, " I am Joseph, whom ye have sold 
into Egypt." They were confounded ; they feared 
and trembled before him. Then he drew near to 
them and said, " I am Joseph, your brother," and 
fell on their necks and kissed them. This was the 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 39 

kiss of forgiveness. Joseph forgave them, but they 
could not forgive themselves. Penitence does not 
cease with the sense of forgiveness. The greater 
the evidence of pardon, the greater the flow of peni- 
tential tears. The sense of many sins forgiven will 
produce much love, and an abundance of love will 
increase the sweetness of the stream which flows 
from the heart subdued by pardoning love. There 
is at first a very bitter ingredient in repentance, but 
the tree of life sweetens the waters of Marah. The 
redeemed will forever remember their former state 
of sin and pollution, while gratitude for their deliv- 
erance from iniquity will inspire them to sing louder 
and sweeter strains to Him that loved them, and 
washed them in His own blood. 

The church in Middletown is one of the fL\e Bap- 
tist churches which constituted the Philadelphia 
Association, the first in America, the mother of the 
hundreds which now exist. "When we remember 
that small beginning, and look upon the present ex- 
pansion and strength of the Baptist churches, we 
may well exclaim " What hath God wrought ! " 

This ancient church stands as an honorable ma- 
tron, surrounded by at least 'Q.ve of her daughters, 
who are striving to emulate her virtues. The New 
Jersey Baptist churches are proverbially good to 
their Pastors, steadfast in the faith of the gospel, 
peaceable, and ready to submit to the government 
of Christ. Consequently brotherly love and unan- 
imity mark the religious gatherings of our churches 
in this commonwealth. May not the influence of 



40 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

this mother church, in her early days, when that 
eminent man of God, Abel Morgan, presided over 
her, under God, be among the influences that has 
brought about this happy state of things ? 

During the whole time I served this beloved 
church I have no recollection of one unpleasant 
circumstance to mar our happiness as a church. 
The membership maintained a circumspect deport- 
ment, letting their light shine, endeavoring to keep 
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and 
God was glorified in them. 

In the first years of my pastorate intemperance 
was rampant in the community, threatening us with 
a war of extermination. Yet as thickly as the ar- 
rows of alcohol flew, I remember but one among 
the members who was wounded. While on his way 
to New York he received a flesh wound, but he 
hastened to the good Physician for healing, and 
then to the church, where he gave vent to his sor- 
rows in groans and tears, because he had dishonored 
the cause of Christ and grieved the hearts of his 
brethren. ******* 

[Here the recital abruptly closes. Probably feebleness prevented further 
writing at the time, and for some cause it was never resumed.] 

After serving the church in Middletown twelve 
or thirteen years, with marked acceptance and pro- 
fit to the church and community, he removed in 
the spring of 1837 to South Trenton, in New York, 
and took charge of the church at Holland Patent. 
He organized a church at South Trenton, in con- 
nection with North Gage, and they built a house of 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 41 

worship at South Trenton, where he labored two 
years, and then two years at Deerfield Corners, 
traveling nine miles every Lord's day ; the church, 
in its poverty, only giving him a salary of $100 a 
year. Then he successively served the churches 
at Lower Dublin and Holmesburg, in Pennsylvania. 
In 1851 he removed to Middletown again, and, as 
a patriarch among his children, was welcomed with 
veneration and love wherever he went among his 
former hearers. He continued to preach, as strength 
permitted, for the churches in the vicinity of his 
home, and in a wider circuit, including New York 
city and the churches in the East E"ew Jersey Asso- 
ciation. But a few weeks-before his departure he 
preached for the church at New Monmouth, the last 
of the sermons printed in this volume. After 
eighty- two years of pilgrimage, the messenger for 
whom he had patiently waited, announced to him 
that his glorious King Jesus desired his attendance 
in the royal presence. Just as the weary Saturday 
was giving place to the day of rest the doors of the 
clay tabernacle began to open for the escape of the 
redeemed soul. The last conflict was short. There 
was barely time to summon his son's household, 
who did all that affection could do. Before the 
Lord's daylight of Sept. 24th, 1865, streaked across 
the broad Atlantic, upon which, from his window, 
he had so often looked, he was bathing in the glory 
of the throne. Another harp added its notes on 
that Sabbath to the worship on high — -another voice, 
not tremulous, but in full, round perfection, helped 



42 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

to sing "Worthy is the Lamb." The happiness of 
heaven was intensified by the arrival of another of 
the blood-washed, who had turned many to right- 
eousness. 



[The following account of the funeral is furnished by brother D. B. Stout :] 

The funeral services took place on Tuesday, Sept. 
26th, when a large number of his friends assembled 
at the house of his son. The body was laid in one 
of the most beautiful caskets that I ever beheld, 
while the countenance wore that placid meekness 
which always characterized him in life, and deeply 
impressed us with the thought that our friend was 
sweetly sleeping in Jesus. After prayer by brother 
Harris, the pastor of the church to which he be- 
longed, a long train of weeping relatives and 
friends followed him to the meeting-house of the 
First Baptist Church, at Middletown, where they 
were joined by a large concourse of friends gathered 
from distant parts of the surrounding country. 
The body was placed in front of the pulpit, while 
the house was filled with a solemn and weeping 
audience. The 1118th hymn was read by the pastor 
and sung to an appropriate air by the choir, com- 
mencing with the words — 

" Servant of, God well done ! 
Rest from thy loved employ. 

After which the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians was 
read by Rev. Mr. Cailhopper, of Keyport. The 
Rev. Charles E. "Wilson, of Holmdel, led the assem- 
bly in prayer, when an appropriate hymn was read 



AUTOBIOGKAPHY. 43 

by Eev. ¥m. V. Wilson, of Port Monmouth. 
Father Roberts having left in writing a request that 
brother D. B. Stout would preach upon the occasion 
' Christ and the Resurrection,' this request was com- 
plied with by a short sermon on the 15th of 1st 
Cor. 20th v. — " Now is Christ risen from the dead 
and become the first fruits of them that slept," to- 
gether with a brief history of his labors and sxiccess 
in the christian ministry. Brother Harris then 
gave a short address in reference to the experience 
of his last days, in which it was evident that he was 
ripening for the world of glory. After which 
prayer was offered by brother Middleditch, of Red 
Bank, when brother Millspaugh, of the Reformed 
Dutch Church, pronounced the benediction. I sup- 
pose that not less than five hundred persons then 
came to look for the last time upon that face which 
they had only known to love ; who had often ad- 
dressed them most affectionately on the great inter- 
est of their souls, and from whom they seemed in- 
stinctively to hear as coming from his cold remains 
the words once attached to the breast of the sainted 
Pay son — " Remember the words that I spake unto 
you while I was yet with you." 

The Xew Jersey Baptist State Convention, at its 
meeting a few weeks after the funeral, adopted and 
printed a report of their obituary committee, in 
which special reference is made to his life and 
labors. At the meeting of the East ^N~ew Jersey As- 
sociation similar notice was taken of his departure. 



44 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

In the annual letter to the Association the Second 
Middletown Church writes : " One event has oc- 
curred within our church which is of interest to the 
members of the Association. Our aged and vener- 
ated brother, Thomas Roberts, has gone from our 
midst to his rest above. "We can truly say that his 
place, probably, can never be filled. Aged, wise, 
and experienced, lovely in spirit and life, generous 
and devoted to Christ and his cause, always ready, 
as far as the infirmities of age would permit, for every 
good work, he had lived long among us and ever 
exhibited the spirit of the journeying pilgrim ex- 
pecting to reach the land of rest. Suddenly his 
journey ceased and the aged pilgrim entered the 
gates of pearl, leaving his brethren and numerous 
family the legacy of his meek, laborious, and per- 
severing example." 

[Substance of an oral communication from Eev. Dr. C. G. Sommers, for many 
years pastor of the South Church, New York, and a fellow student with brother 
Roberts :] 

I became acquainted with brother Roberts in 
1814. I soon found my heart specially drawn to 
him, and loved him for his simple, unaffected, pure 
piety. Our companionship was profitable, and I 
recall, with interest, incidents illustrating his self- 
denial and devotedness. I have known him when 
on a journey to his home to abstain from his meals, 
for the sake of his dear family, and more than once 
he walked from Philadelphia to Newark, that he 
might reserve means to pursue his studies. 

Our public work lay in different directions, but 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 45 

our occasional meetings were always productive of 
great pleasure. His sermons were powerful because 
they were full of truth, and were delivered in an 
affectionate, persuasive, earnest manner, which won 
the attention of his hearers. 

I vividly remember a passage in one of his ser- 
mons, preached for me at Troy, which had a power- 
ful effect upon the congregation and my own sym- 
pathies. In speaking of the christian's prospect of 
heaven, he referred to his first approach to our 
shores. Said he, "the sailors were earnestly speak- 
ing of friends who would soon welcome them home ; 
while poor I had no friend to greet me ; but, breth- 
ren, we may rejoice as we think of our glorified 
predecessors, who will greet us on our arrival at 
the Port of Peace." He then made a powerful ap- 
plication of the subject. 

He thought much of heaven — I believe he is 
there. One of my highest pleasures, after seeing 
the exalted Saviour, will be to shake hands with 
the sainted Eoberts. 




LETTERS. 

[From Rev. W. B. Harris.] 

Leonardville, Aug. 9, 1866. 
Rev. H. F. Smith, 

Dear Bro. : — You requested me, as the 
pastor of the church of which the late venerable and 
pious Thomas Roberts, Sr., was a member, to give 
some facts and incidents relating to his last days, 
and our relation as pastor and member. This I 
will do as well as I can in the brief time you have 
given me to recall and put them together. 

At my settlement here my acquaintance with bro- 
ther Roberts commenced. I then learned that he 
was a minister, and also his former relation to this 
church and that of the First Middletown. I learn- 
ed of his intimate acquaintance and influence with 
the churches in this vicinity also, and I confess to a 
fear that I might be embarrassed and made some- 
what uncomfortable in my position as pastor of a 
church with a member of his age and experience 
and former relation to the church and neighbor- 
hood; but in this I was agreeably disappointed. 
I found him to be the always living christian, not 
only as regards the doctrines and practice, but also 
the spirit and experience of the gospel. He was 



LETTERS. 47 

decided in judgment, but very meek and humble, 
Slid in the nearly four years of my relation to him 
as pastor I never knew him to assume any prece- 
dence, or dictate, or insist upon any. course of his 
own, nor to attempt to encroach upon any prero- 
gative or privilege of mine or his brethren. As to 
zeal for Christ's truth and cause, both here and 
elsewhere, he was warm and anxious, and active, as 
far as age and infirmity would permit. He gave of 
his means as the Lord prospered, and labored as 
strength favored him for the cause ; he would sup- 
ply a neighboring brother's pulpit when he was in- 
disposed or needed leave of absence, or he would 
offer an exhortation from time to time, in the pro- 
tracted or other meetings, and that in tears and with 
an energy that would exhaust him. Several times 
during his last year here, he remarked to his pas- 
tor, that if it was agreeable he would like once 
more to state the truth to the people as it might be 
the last time. At a time of great affliction in the 
pastor's family, he could not preach the funeral ser- 
mons, being nervous, but he would take the pas- 
tor's place on sabbath. This was but a month or so 
before his death. At the time of the jubilee meet- 
ing of the Missionary Union he had three hundred 
dollars, which he had especially designated to aid his 
son in case of draft, but he must appropriate one 
hundred to the Lord's cause and trust him for it. 
At the church at home he was ever ready to contri- 
bute his part (which would compare well with any 
others) for all good objects. Having been a pastor 



48 LETTERS. 

and knowing their needs, he was always solicitous 
that his Pastor should be well cared for. In his 
private or social intercourse with myself he was 
always frank, confiding, simple and affectionate. 
When I called at his residence, which was at his 
son's house, he frequently would, after a little chat 
with the family, lead me into his private room or 
study and notice what he had done in writing or 
study, and enter into a conversation, the topics of 
which invariably pertained to the church, its pros- 
pects, &c, and to his own experience and prospects, 
and the fact that he was waiting his Master's call. 
" I am waiting, brother Harris," was his language. 
He would sometimes intimate that it was at a dis- 
tant period that his preparation had been made, 
and that it was the same then as ever. He had em- 
phatically that love which casteth out all fear. A 
few months before his death he hinted, from time 
to time, that he suspected disease of the heart in his 
case, and asked its symptoms. I remarked that if 
he had that disease his death might be very sud- 
den. " Yes," he said, " that or otherwise, would 
be all the same in the result. My Master knows 
best what way." From this time he seemed to be 
settled in a consciousness of an early end to his 
pilgrimage. It soon came, and in such a manner 
as gave no opportunity for death-bed expressions. 
He has gone, and faith, which we live by, is changed 
to fruition with him. 

Yours, truly, 

Wm. B. Harris. 



LETTERS. 49 

[From T. Roberts.] 

New Monmouth, July 27th, 1866. 
Dear Brother Smith : 

In answer to your request that I should 
write some reminiscences of my beloved father, I 
would say that I feel myself inadequate to the un- 
dertaking. The most interesting portions of his life 
and labors passed whilst I was too young to remem- 
ber them to record them with sufficient correctness, 
and the latter part of his life was spent in fields so 
distant from my residence that I have very little 
knowledge of them. In regard to his extensive labors 
I would say, in the Great Valley Church, Pa., he 
labored in out-stations ; at Valley Forge, where has 
grown up, from the seed sown by him, a church 
which I believe is called Phoenixville. He preached 
regularly at ^orristown, at Paoli, at Eadnor, at the 
Lamb Tavern, and at other places which I do not 
recollect, at most of which places Baptist churches 
have been established. At Norristown he was fre- 
quently invited to fill the pulpit of the Presbyterian 
church, and also of the Episcopal church. High 
Churchism could not have been so rigid then as now. 
At one time he called in at a Quaker meeting, and 
after siting a while the Spirit moved him to speak, 
and he preached them a gospel sermon with which 
the old friends were delighted. "When he first came 
to the Middletown church he resided at Baptist- 
town, now Holmdel, where was the parsonage, and 
preached Lord's-day mornings alternately there and 
at the village of Middletown, and in the afternoon 



50 LETTERS. 

and evenings, and during the week at various out sta- 
tions. He occupied all the following named places, 
some of which have been lost to the Baptist cause 
from not having been occupied since : — Edinboro, 
Colts Neck, Fox or Eed Hill, Middletown Point, two 
places in the vicinity of Keyport, (for Keyport was 
not in existence then,) Waycake, now called Gran- 
ville, the Dennis neighborhood, now called Har- 
mony, Chanceville, now E"ew Monmouth, Shoal 
Harbor, now Port Monmouth, Riceville, Leonard- 
ville, the Chapel, Headen's Corner, Leedsville, 
and Morris ville. In this large field and out of this 
one church of Middletown there are now the follow- 
ing churches, viz., Middletown, First and Second, 
Holmdel, Keyport, Middletown Point, Port Mon- 
mouth and Red Bank. Whilst laboring in this 
extensive field I never heard him complain of weari- 
ness or sore throat. He did not depend alone on 
his pulpit labors, but also labored much with indi- 
viduals. In commencing the temperance move- 
ment he first prepared many by private conversa- 
tion, showing its importance, and then preached the 
first temperance sermon from Paul's words — " I 
speak as unto wise men, judge ye what I say," and 
about seventy signed the pledge. This was at the 
very commencement of the movement, by which 
many hundreds have, we trust, been saved from a 
drunkard's doom. 

He was very successful in healing dissensions and 
allaying irritations. When he came to Middletown 
it was strongly antinomian. Without immediately 



LETTERS. 51 

attacking it he gradually undermined it by, or over- 
whelmed it, with the truth, so that it gave way to 
a strong missionary spirit. Once in a time of great 
political excitement, a sermon he preached on 
political abuses highly offended a worthy brother, 
who was an active politician, and thought he meant 
to reprove him in particular. As soon as father 
heard of it he wrote him a kind letter, without de- 
tracting anything from the truth delivered in his 
sermon, which so calmed him that the next day he 
came to see father, and seizing hold of him, ex- 
claimed "Brother Roberts, I love you better than 
ever." 

Yours, 

Thomas Roberts. 



[From Rev. Dr. Webb.] 

New Brunswick , June 19, 1866. 
My dear brother Smith, 

I wish that I could supply what is 
lacking of the history of the life and labors of 
our dear departed brother Roberts, but I cannot. 
My acquaintance with him commenced about 
the time that he became pastor of the church 
of Middletown ; but it was not my privilege ever 
to be much in his company or to hear him preach, 
only at rare intervals. When I did hear him I was 
soon made to feel that there stood before me a good 
minister of Jesus Christ; and this impression was 
deepened by all that I knew of him, in or out of 



52 LETTERS. 

the pulpit, until he finished his course. It seemed 
to me that the Master had, in a peculiar manner, 
anointed him to preach glad tidings to the meek, to 
bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to 
the captives, and the opening of the prison to them 
that are bound. And in another aspect he reminded 
me of what is said of his blessed Lord, that He 
should not cry, or lift up, or cause his voice to be 
heard in the street. A beautiful humility and a 
lovely sympathy shone in his whole character. The 
doctrines that he preached were, as all who read his 
sermons will perceive, what have been called Cal- 
vanistic. But he did not preach them as coming 
from men, but as they lie in the Scriptures of truth, 
and as constituting the glorious gospel of the blessed 
G-od. This gospel our dear brother loved to preach, 
and God blessed him and made him a blessing to 
many. 

His ministry was in a peculiar manner made a 
blessing, in harmonizing discordant elements, which 
he found in some of the churches he served, and in 
promoting the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of 
peace among the disciples of Christ ; and while he 
was a good shepherd of the flocks over which the 
Holy Ghost made him an overseer he was also in- 
strumental in gathering many into the fold of 
Christ. Several precious . revivals occurred under 
his ministration, when happy numbers turned unto 
the Lord. But I will not write more of these feeble 
and imperfect statements, assured that you can de- 
rive from other sources far better and more compe- 



LETTERS. 53 

tent statements of the life of this good man, whom 
the Lord gave to his people of this land, and who, 
naving served his generation by the will of God, 
has now fallen asleep in Jesus. 

Yours, very truly, 

G. S. Webb. 



[From Rev. C. E. Wilson.] 

Holmdel, August 14, 1866. 
Dear Brother Smith, 

The parsonage at Holmdel was the first 
place where Father Roberts resided after he took 
charge of the Middletown Baptist Church, 
preaching in each meeting-house once in two 
weeks alternately. Three or four years after 
his settlement he bought a farm near Middletown, 
making that the place of his residence the re- 
mainder of his pastorate. 

A few years after his removal to Middletown, he 
said to the brethren at Holmdel, publicly, " I think 
it would advance the cause to have two churches 
and two ministers. When I am prevented from 
getting here at the stated time you are without 
preaching four weeks. If you will form yourselves 
into a church and get a minister I will give you 
thirty dollars towards his support out of the three 
hundred dollars I receive for my services." The 
brethren responded to the wise counsel, and the 
Holmdel Baptist Church was the first of the group 



54 LETTERS. 

of Baptist churches which now encompass the 
mother church. 

Brother Boberts was a man of strong faith. Be- 
fore steamboats began to run between New York 
city and Monmouth county he was crossing the 
Bay in a sloop, when a great storm overtook the 
vessel- and all on board expected to be lost. In 
alluding to this circumstance from the pulpit on a 
subsequent sabbath morning, he said — " When the 
storm was raging and all on board expected to be 
lost I examined myself and found I was on the rock 
Christ Jesus, and had no fear." 

He had a talent for the elucidation of scripture. 
At one time he taught a large and interesting 
bible class at Holmdel. An aged sister, who 
was a member of the class said— " The lessons were 
very interesting, as brother Boberts made every- 
thing so plain." 

He was greatly respected for his sincerity. An 
aged gentleman, residing in the neighborhood, said 
to me, not long since — " Mr. Boberts and myself 
could not agree on some doctrinal points ; on meet- 
ing me at a certain time he said ' Mr. why 

do you come to hear me preach when you do not 
believe what I say ? ' I replied ' I believe you are 
sincere in what you preach.' " 

It was at a communion season when the writer 
was received, by letter, into the Holmdel church. 
Brother Boberts was present and gave the hand of 
fellowship. His remarks on that occasion were rich 
in experience — instructive, simple, tender, and im- 
pressive, and uttered with a heavenly unction ; they 



LETTERS. 55 

moved the congregation to tears. He seemed to 
care as deeply for the flock as when he was the un- 
der shepherd. 

Our people, who knew brother Roberts, always 
speak of him with great respect. "Whenever he 
made us a visit they were glad to see him, to hear 
him preach, and have him share their hospitality. 
A worthy sister in speaking of the esteem in which 
he was held and the result of his labors, says — "he 
was instrumental in bringing about several reforms in 
the congregation. He formed a Female Benevolent 
Society, a Female Tract Society, and a Sunday 
School Society. He baptized a goodly number dur- 
ing his stay among us. His preaching was always 
edifying, and he was greatly beloved by the mem- 
bers of the church and congregation." 

According to the testimony of the brethren, bro- 
ther Roberts did not shun to declare the whole 
counsel of God, and to keep before the people the 
distinctive views of the denomination. But he did 
it in a christian spirit. 

Uniformity was a prominent trait in his character. 
Were you to see him to-day you would see what he 
was yesterday and what he would be to-morrow. 
The impression he made upon the public mind was 
less marked than it would have been had he pos- 
sessed some bold trait in wide contrast with others. 
Just as the scenery on the banks of the prince of 
rivers, in consequence of its sameness, fails to im- 
press the traveler who navigates its waters, as it 
would were the sameness every now and then in- 



56 LETTERS. 

terrupted by some bold cliff or lofty mountain. 
But this uniformity did not make him less useful 
than he otherwise would have been. 

In his religious life, brother Roberts was not like 
the meteor that flashes through the heavens, filling 
the beholder with wonder and admiration and then 
disappears, but he was like the polar star, whose 
position is always known and which shines with 
uniform brightness. Neither was he in his religious 
life like the brook that overflows its banks in a 
copious shower, but nearly disappears after the rain 
has subsided, but he was like the broad river, that 
flows silently and with nearly equal volume and 
velocity. 

Your truly, 

Charles E. Wilson. 



[From Rev. Dr. Babcock.] 

Barrington Center, R. J., 2Uh Sept., 1866. 
Rev. H. F. Smith, 

My dear Brother; — In this cool retreat, 
on the shores of the ISTaragansett, I willingly seat 
myself to comply with your request for some per- 
sonal recollections of that dear man of God — that 
servant of Christ, of His church, and of the hea- 
then — father Thomas Roberts. There is a pure, 
unmixed fragrance in all his name, and memory, 
and history, so far as I can recall them. In any- 
thing I may now write, away from my home, and 
from such memoranda and books of reference as I 



LETTERS. 57 

could there consult, you will have bare personal 
recollections, without much order or reliable dates. 
I cannot be quite sure whether my acquaintance 
began with him when I was a member of the Fa- 
culty of the Columbia College, D. C, (where two of 
his sons were educated,) in the years 1822-23, or 
whether I met him at the Triennial Convention, in 
Washington city, in the year 1823, or at the next 
one in New York city, in the year 1826. In the 
latter, acting on the committee upon Indian Mis- 
sions, with brethren Cone, "Wayland, and men of 
that standing, and having myself to write and pre- 
sent their report to the convention, his character 
and his labors among the red-men would not fail to 
impress themselves on the mind. So did all the re- 
ports and letters which he subsequently sent, more 
or less of which were published and read by all of 
us, at the time they appeared, as an important 
part of the current religious literature. They had 
stamped on them, indelibly, the writer's well- 
known character of vivid truthfulness, and that 
sterling honesty which gave additional weight to 
them, for all who knew their writer. My member- 
ship in the Foreign Mission Board, for several years 
afterwards, helped to impress me with his worth, 
his reliability as a missionary ; one whose singleness 
of aim and steadiness of purpose were sure to be 
the more fully appreciated, when compared with 
the lack of these essential qualities in others. It 
was, however, the personal intercourse I had with 
him, and the savor of his pastoral influence in some 



58 LETTERS. 

of the churches where he labored so successfully, 
after his return from his missionary services among 
the Indians, that have fixed themselves in my mind 
most indelibly. Such intercourse as I have enjoyed 
with some of these churches has convinced me fully, 
that as a preacher and pastor, he had so cared for 
the spiritual health of the flock, feeding them with 
knowledge and understanding, and guarding them 
from grievous wolves (often in sheep's clothing,) 
who would rend and not spare the flock. 

His preaching, as I learned of it, either by the 
testimony of his constant hearers, or on the few 
occasions when it has been my privilege to listen to 
him, has been eminently spiritual, abounding in 
those exuberant gospel themes, and richly imbued 
with such apposite illustrations, as fix the attention 
at the time and many of them abide in the memory 
long afterwards. I would willingly give you my 
recollections of some of these, even after so long a 
distance of time, but I am sure you will have them 
in a more perfect form and with more attractive 
fullness from others. His fine, genial, command- 
ing presence, his gentle, mellow, and in his later 
years, slightly tremulous voice, added a charm to 
his discourses, giving a pathos to his utterances 
which all familiar with him delight to remember. 
It was very far, however, from the maudlin weari- 
ness into which some allow their afTectionateness to 
degenerate. There was sound reasoning without 
the parade of technical logic, and the results of stu- 
dious and valuable criticism, unmixed with preten- 



LETTERS. 59 

sious pedantry. Moreover, the influence of his 
preaching was enhanced rather than diminished by 
his practice. Neither undoing or overdoing of the 
lessons of the pulpit could ever, in father Roberts' 
case, be found in his life. 

This leads me to remark on the character of his 
ministerial intercourse in general, and especially 
that with his official brethren. There are men, 
good men, in the general estimate, whom you would 
a little rather not have come into your family, or if 
a pastor, to mingle freely and long among the mem- 
bers of your flock. From what you know of their 
habits of life or the injudiciousness of their speech, 
you would expect to have trouble in weeding out 
the tares which they would sow among the wheat, 
or to eradicate some harmful virus which they had, 
very thoughtlessly, perhaps, exuded on those with 
whom they came in contact. Just the reverse of 
this was always, so far as I could see, the thought- 
ful, considerate aim, and the studious, successful 
endeavor of this man of God. Sufficiently exact 
in all the amenities of life with whomsoever he 
mingled, there was more especially a hearty and 
healthful regard for the feelings, the character, the 
reputation and influence of his brethren in the 
ministry, which made him more than welcome to 
their houses and hearts ; more than merely safe — a 
rich blessing rather — wherever he could move and 
mingle among their people. Take him for all in 
all, his piety, his benevolence, his prudence, his wis- 
dom, and his untiring efforts to honor his divine 



60 LETTERS. 

Master and bless his fellow men, not soon shall we 
look upon his superior or even his equal. 

Yours most fraternally, 

Rufus Babcock. 



[From Kav. Edgar M. Levy, D. D.] 

Newark, Oct. 1st, 1866 f 
Dear Brother Smith, 

The last time brother Eoberts visited 
Newark I had the pleasure of entertaining him. I 
felt amply rewarded by the hours of sweet fellow- 
ship and Christian conversation we were permitted 
to enjoy. Saturday evening was spent in listening 
to a recital of his conversion, his call to the minis- 
try, and his early labors among the Indians. He 
claimed to have organized, while engaged in his 
Indian mission, the first temperance and anti-slavery 
societies ever instituted in America. The hours 
fled too fast, as the good old pilgrim told us of the 
olden times ; and the faithful soldier of the cross, 
with modest and grateful manner, related the story 
of battles fought and won for Jesus. 

" Now upon the first day of the week, very early 
in the morning," I was awakened by the sound of 
a voice in the adjoining room. I listened — it was 
dear brother Roberts engaged in prayer. For at 
least one hour that voice did not cease. He had 
not risen from his bed, for it must be borne in mind 
he was aged and growing feeble, and yet he could 



LETTERS. 61 

not risen from his bed, for, it must be borne in 
mind, he was aged and growing feeble, and yet he 
could " remember God upon his bed, and meditate 
on Him in the night watches." It was a beautiful 
Sabbath morning in June; all nature was filled 
with praise ; the birds were singing in the branches, 
and the flowers were swinging their perfume out 
upon the air, but more beautiful were the devotions 
of that aged Christian, already ripe for heaven, and 
sweeter far to the dear Redeemer was the fragrance 
of his praise. We shall not soon forget that last 
visit of our departed brother to Newark, nor cease 
to feel grateful that it was our privilege to entertain 
the faithful servant of Christ. 

Yours truly, 

Edgar M. Levy. 




SERMONS 






If f -V 



f 5 ^^ 



SERMON I 



THE POOR RICH MAN. 

2 Cor. vi : 10. — l " As poor, yet making many rich ; as having nothing, yet pos- 
sessing all things. 1 ' 

The contrary of this is more frequently found 
among men. The rich poor man — he abounds in 
wealth, but is not rich toward God. He applies 
the Lord's property to his own uses, forgetting that 
he is only a steward, and that it is required in 
stewards that a man be found faithful. Whether 
the steward notes his transactions or not, the Master 
does ; and he will soon exhibit his unerring ledger, 
and say, give an account of thy stewardship, for 
thou mayest be no longer steward. How deplor- 
ably poor will be his condition when he is found a 
defaulter in ten thousand talents, and has nothing 
to pay. Let the rich poor man listen to that in- 
spired word, " Charge them that are rich in this 
world that they be not high-minded nor trust in 
uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth 
us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, 
that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, 



66 SERMONS. 

willing to communicate; laying tip in store for 
themselves a good foundation against the time to 
come, that they may lay hold of eternal life." 
Happy the man who is taught of God to make 
friends of the mammon of unrighteousness. When 
he fails they will receive him to everlasting habita- 
tions. The way to do this is to honor all the drafts 
which bear the signature of the great proprietor. 
It matters not to you whether the bearers are those 
who need bread, the ignorant who need instruction, 
or the toiling missionary in distant lands ; honor 
the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruit 
of all thine increase. This will evince thy love to 
God and show that thou art rich in faith and an 
heir of the kingdom which he hath promised to 
them that love him. Let us leave the rich poor 
man, in hope that he will profit by the exhortation, 
and turn our thoughts to the poor rich man. 

If Paul had any property at Jerusalem it was 
doubtless confiscated by the Jewish ceurfr as soon 
as they heard of his conversion to Christianity, 
and the inheritance from his forefathers which he 
once prized so highly became worthless in his 
esteem. He found near Damascus a Pearl of great 
price, whose brightness outshone the sun at noon- 
day. He was so charmed with the loveliness of 
Jesus that he immediately relinquished into his 
hands all property and claim in himself, and while 
his heart resolved his lips exclaimed " Lord what 
wilt thou have me to do ? " The conflict was severe 
but short. Soon the victory perched on the brow 



SERMONS. 67 

so recently crowned with thorns ; one of the chief 
enemies of the Cross was slain and made alive; 
Jesus' power was displayed to save the chief of sin- 
ners. Paul's own words testify to the relinquish- 
ment of the privileges, to a Jew as precious as 
life. - " Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of 
Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the 
Hebrews." "But what things were gain to me 
those I counted loss for Christ ; yea, doubtless, and 
I count all things but loss for the excellency of the 
knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord, for whom I 
suffered the loss of all things, and do count them 
but dung that I may win Christ." 

Look at the contrast in this man's circumstances. 
He leaves Jerusalem clothed with full authority 
from the High Priest. Exulting in his commission, 
bloated with self-importance, glorying in his zeal 
and self-righteousness, breathing out slaughter 
against the disciples of Jesus, confident that he is 
doing God service, he passes through the gates with 
flying colors amid the applause of the multitude for 
his zeal in maintaining the traditions of his fathers. 

£s"ow see him enter the gate of Damascus, pale 
and haggard, his eyes sightless, his conscience smit- 
ten. The words he heard a little while since follow 
him and harrow his spirit — " Saul, Saul, why per- 
secutest thou me ? " He can give no reason for his 
conduct, otherwise than by confessing his guilt and 
crying "Lord forgive, " I did it ignorantly, in un- 
belief, yet my ignorance is no palliation for my 
guilt, for Moses and the Prophets wrote of thee, 



05 SERMONS. 

clearly describing thy person and character, so that 
I might have known thee. And thou thyself didst 
often preach in the streets of Jerusalem, when I 
might have heard thee; but oh! the prejudice of 
my wicked heart shut my eyes from seeing thy 
works, and stopped my ears from hearing thy words. 
Moreover, I stood near thy martyr Stephen when 
he delivered his dying testimony. My ears heard 
the words, but my heart was steeled against their 
entrance. When he said " Ye stiff-necked in heart 
and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost; as 
your fathers did, so do ye," these words made me 
exceeding mad against him, and I, with others, 
gnashed on him with my teeth. When the ques- 
tion of execution was put I gave my voice — " stone 
him! stone him/" I saw him before the council, 
and so tranquil was his spirit that his face shone 
as the face of an angel. I stood near him when he 
suffered and held the outer garments of his mur- 
derers; I saw him calmly kneeling while the stones 
showered upon him ; I heard him crying with a 
loud voice — "Lord lay not this sin to their charge." 
O brethren, there was fasting, praying, confessing 
in that home of Judas, in the street " Straight." 
Jesus recognized it and said " Behold he prayeth." 
That foor man cried; the Lord heard him and 
saved him from all his troubles. He obtained 
mercy because he did it ignorantly in unbelief. 
He had the means of knowledge, but his Jewish 
prejudice was so dense that he could not discern the 
features of Messiah in Jesus of Nazareth, like the 



SERMONS, 69 

crucifiers, whose ignorance of the real character of 
Christ was made a plea in their behalf. " Father 
forgive them, for they know not what they do." 
" Which none of the princes of this world knew, 
for had they known him they would not have cru- 
cified the Lord of glory." 

The ignorance and unbelief of men are highly 
criminal in the sight of God ; still, they are not 
unpardonable. Saul went a great way in sin, but 
restraining grace prevented him from passing the 
bounds of mercy. ETo doubt he had for three days 
and nights the most despairing apprehensions that 
the mercy of God was clean gone, and that he would 
be favorable no more. what fearful looking-for 
of judgment and fiery indignation that poor sinner 
had! 

The Lord now sent Ananias to him with a mes- 
sage of mercy. When Ananias heard the name of 
Saul of Tarsus he was terrified, and would fain be 
excused, but the Lord said " Go thy way," dismiss 
thy fears; I have had him in hand for three days and 
his enmity is subdued. The tiger is slain, the lion 
has forsaken his den and the lamb is there instead, 
" Behold he prayeth." Go thy way; haste, there is 
no time to lose; he is in the jaws of despair; go, 
pluck him out, and tell him that he is a chosen 
vessel unto me, to bear my name before the gentiles, 
and kings, and the children of Israel. Brethren, 
if we wish to see a case of extraordinary poverty 
let us go to the house of Judas, and let us get there 
before Ananias arrives. There lies Paul, weak and 



70 SERMONS. 

emaciated. He would weep, but agony has shut 
the fountain of his tears and not a drop will moisten 
his sightless eyes. Hear -him bemoan his sad con- 
dition — I had a righteousness which I thought was 
blameless, but that light on the way discovered it 
to be utterly worthless. He that met me tore it 
away and my soul is left naked — exposed to the 
curses of the law and the lashes of my guilty con- 
science. I was alive, or thought I was, but the 
commandment came, sin revived, and I died; I had 
a God, or thought I had, but I call on him and he 
does not answer me; Iliad a hope, but it has been 
swept away as a spider's web ; I had a heart light 
and buoyant, but oh ! that question " Why perse- 
cutest thou me ? " has crushed it. I am yoor in- 
deed, without Christ, without God, and without hope. 
O Paul, you shall see that though poor yet you 
shall make many rich. Having nothing yet pos- 
sessing all things. When worldly men become 
poor they call themselves unfortunate, using the 
phrase to shield themselves from blame.- I think 
Paul never complained of his great failure. In his 
bankruptcy began his prosperity. happy failure ! 
blessed poverty ! that compelled him to seek true 
riches at the door of sovereign mercy. While 
prostrate, begging, he found his great possession. 
"As having nothing yet possessing all things." 
Great wealth is apt to beget great pride — not so- with 
the true riches ; the more of that a man has the less 
he esteems himself. Here is an example. — " Unto 
me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace 



SERMONS. 71 

given, that I should preach among the gentiles the 
unsearchable riches of Christ." He deemed him- 
self of saints the least and of sinners the chief; he 
owed all to free grace. I think I hear him say, " If 
I am born again it was not ' of blood, nor of the 
will of the flesh, nor of man, but of God.' " If I 
differ from my former self, God makes me to differ, 
so I have no more to glory. Since I saw Jesus and 
his wondrous cross, on which my sin was cancelled 
and my soul redeemed, my constant prayer has been 
" God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of 
Christ." 

Secondly — Let us now, my brethren, spend a few 
minutes in surveying Paul's great possessions. " As 
having nothing yet possessing all things." The 
Apostle loved to show his valuable presents to all 
who had any desire to see them, and he was careful 
to tell everybody, who gave them to him, and under 
what circumstances he received them. While he 
was telling the story he would frequently have to 
stop short and give vent to the flame of gratitude in 
his heart — " Thanks be unto God for His unspeak- 
able gift! " " Unto me, who am less than the least 
of all saints is this grace given." my brethren, 
it is truly delightful to go with Paul into his trea- 
sure-house; he can exhibit every article to such 
good advantage that we can scarcely fail to appre- 
ciate all ; and when visitors admire and covet the 
jewels he is sure to tell them that the Master has 
plenty more in store for the poor, " for," says he, 
" it pleased the Father that in Him (Christ) should 



72 SERMONS. 

all fullness dwell." "God is rich in mercy to all 
that call upon him." 

This store-house is open and free for all to come 
and see what grace can do in taking the poor from 
the dust and setting him among the princes of his 
people. 

" Come ye sinners, poor and needy, 
Come to Jesus and receive ; 
Every blessing now is ready, 
Ready in his hand to give. 11 

In my lifetime I have been at the patent office, at 
Peale's Museum, and the Crystal Palace. In these 
I admired the wonders of nature and art. My 
curiosity rose so that I regretted the flight of time 
which forbade my longer study. "When I enter 
Paul's museum of sacred treasures and heavenly 
curiosities how far it transcends the others. What 
variety! how beautiful the arrangement! Here 
are all the parts needful in man's salvation; all 
shine with heavenly lustre, resplendent with the 
love of God to sinful men. 

Paul though dead yet speaks, and exhibits these 
wonders as he did when on earth. He is very par- 
ticular in his explanations. If he has painted elec- 
tion, he is sure to inform us that it is of grace. 
" There is a remnant according to the election of 
grace." If he shows us redemption, he ascribes it 
to love. " Who loved me and gave himself for 
me." He points to "calling," and says — "Who 
called me by his grace and revealed His Son in me." 
There is justification; "We are justified freely by 
his grace." Behold hope; a good hope through 



SERMONS. 73 

grace', and see full salvation. "By grace are ye 
saved." 

Thirdly — low see how Paul used his possessions. 

" As poor yet making many rich." He did not 
pretend to confer saving grace on others, for he 
always insisted that it was the prerogative of God 
to save sinners. 

From the period when God revealed his Son in 
him he was indefatigable in proclaiming the truth 
to his fellow men. JSTo threats deterred, no persecu- 
tions discouraged him. He knew that bonds and 
imprisonment awaited him in every city, but through 
them all he pursued the object that lay nearest his 
heart, namely — to enrich a perishing world with 
the knowledge of Christ and Him crucified. He 
was instant in season and out of season. Christ 
committed the gospel to his trust and commanded 
him to preach it ; and he was not disobedient to the 
heavenly vision, but scattered the precious seed 
broadcast, so that he could say "From Jerusalem 
round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the 
gospel of Christ." The seed of truth germinated and 
ripened into a luxuriant crop of gospel churches, 
which in their turn carried the message to many 
who were perishing for want of the bread of life. 
Instrumental!!/, Paul made many rich in grace, and 
heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to 
them that love him. 

My brethren, God, in making you partakers of 
the true riches, designs not only your own eternal 
benefit, but that you should persuade others to come 



74 SEBMOtfS. 

to Christ for salvation. The principle that actuated 
the four lepers, who went from the gate of Samaria 
to the Syrian camp, should govern every christian. 
When they found the camp deserted and ahundant 
provisions left, they ate what they needed, and re- 
flecting upon the state of the famishing multitudes 
in the city, they said one to another, "we do not 
well ; this is a day of good tidings and we hold our 
peace ; if we tarry till morning light some evil will 
betide us." They went and communicated the 
news to the citizens, and by that act made many 
rich. So God has appointed, that by telling sin- 
ners the glad tidings that a Saviour of the lost has 
come, men are to be rescued from eternal famine. 
"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the 
word of God." Go and say — 

"Now will I tell to sinners round, 
What a dear Saviour I have found : 
I'll point to his redeeming blood 
And say behold the* way to God." 

Before I close permit me to say a few words to 
such as have had the riches of Christ presented 
before you year after year, and to this day have not 
accepted the invaluable gift. The last offer of 
mercy will come, and that may be to-day. "When 
God in anger shall shut up His tender mercy and 
be favorable no more, and say to you "Because I 
have called and you have refused, I stretched out 
my hand and no man regarded, therefore I will 
laugh at your calamity ; I will mock when your 
fear cometh. Then ye shall call and I will not 



SERMONS. 75 

answer you. Ye shall seek me but shall not find 
me." 

How doleful was the cry of the foolish virgins 
when they came and found they were too late! 
" Lord, Lord open unto us." "When mercy smiles 
all is light and peace ; hut when mercy frowns all 
is darkness and despair. 

'■ O sinner seek his grace 

Whose wrath you cannot bear ; 
Fly to the shelter of his cross. 
And find salvation there." 



SERMON II 



DELIVERED AT THE BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE, IN THE GREAT VALLEY, PA., 
DECEMBER, 1818. 



THE RESURRECTION. 

1 Cor. xvi : 12. " Now if Christ be preached that he rose frorrfthe dead, how 
say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead ?* 

The apostle seems to be greatly surprised to hear 
that any who professed to believe in Christ, should 
say that there is no resurrection. 

The denial or rather ignorance . of the resurrec- 
tion, is not a thing uncommon among the heathen, 
who have not been favored with the scriptures of 
truth, who "are without Christ, having no hope, 
and without Grod in the world." But strange ! sur- 
prisingly strange ! that any among you should deny 
this : among you, Corinthians ! you who have heard 

* We are happy to say that the latter clause of the text is not applicable to 
this church, nor to any member in her communion. Yet we have some friends 
and neighbors around us, some of whom appear to entertain doubts on the 
subject ; while others say there is no resurrection. We love our fellow men, 
and -wish to do them good, that they may know the truth as it is in Jesus, and 
be blessed with its consoling influence on their hearts. 

The belief of the resurrection is not one of those peculiarities that distinguish 
one denomination of Christians from another ; but it belongs to those grand 
fundamentals of the doctrine of Christ, on which all gospel believers, of every 
denomination, stand in mutual harmony. 



SERMONS. 77 

the gospel preached " in the demonstration of the 
Spirit and of power," and this doctrine insisted on 
as being essential to saving faith in Christ, how 
say some among you that there is no resurrection ! 

If tout Baying he true, "then is Christ not risen; 
and if Christ he not risen, then is our preaching 
vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are 
found false witnesses of God; because we have tes- 
tified of God that he raised up Christ ; whom he 
raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For 
if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised ; and 
if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain ; ye are 
yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen 
asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only 
we have hope in God, we are, of all men, most 
miserable." 

If your saying be true, all the labors of the apos- 
tles and the servants of God in every as;e, were and 
are in vain. If your saying be true, your faith is 
also vain ; ye are yet in your sins. If your saying 
be true, Jesus of Nazareth is yet in the grave, and 
we who declared him risen are false witnesses. If 
your saying be true, all the dead who died in the 
faith of Christ, are lost for ever; and we who live 
and trust in the Redeemer are, of all men, most 
miserable. 

Begone, ye vain suppositions ! Away, ye doubts 
and despairing ideas, ye destroyers of my best hope ! 
Let the truth of God in its strength and glory ap- 
pear. " But now is Christ risen from the dead, (Glory 
to God !) and become the first fruit of them that slept." 



78 SERMONS. 

Hallelujah ! "And them that sleep in Christ will God 
bring with him" Hosanna to God in the highest ! 

In order to vindicate this fundamental truth of 
the Christian religion, I shall show, 
I. The possibility of a resurrection. 

II. The certainty that the dead shall be raised. 

IH. That the same body that dies will be raised 
again. 

I. We are to show the possibility of a resur- 
rection. 

With men this is impossible, but with God all 
things are possible. 

1. He is a God of power. He created matter, 
and formed it into comely order : he made the 
world out of nothing : " things that are seen, were 
not made of things that do appear;" therefore we 
conclude, with safety, that God is able to raise the 
dead. For he is wonderful in counsel, and excel- 
lent in working, doing great things past finding 
out, and wonders without number. 

The ancient Sadduces considered the resurrection 
a thing impossible. They knew that Jesus Christ 
preached this doctrine ; they therefore came to him 
with a question on the subject. They wanted to 
know of our Saviour, who would be the wife of a 
certain man at the resurrection. In every age, car- 
nal men have carnal ideas ; for the natural man 
knoweth not the things of the Spirit of God. 
Christ told them that in the resurrection they neither 
marry, nor are given in marriage ; but are as the 
angels of God in heaven. Thus Christ put them to 



SERMONS. 79 

silence, and sharply rebuked them for their errors, 
saying, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, 
nor the power of God." 

Those who, at the present time, question the pos- 
sibility or certainty of the resurrection of the dead, 
fall under this severe rebuke of the Son of God. 
If they knew the power of God, they would not 
doubt its possibility. If they knew the scriptures, 
they would not dispute the certainty of the resur- 
rection. He who made the dust of the earth, and 
from it formed the human body, can also, with infi- 
nite ease, raise the same body from the dust again. 

2. The Lord is also a God of knowledge, which 
neither matter nor space, time nor eternity, can 
limit. We know, Lord,, said the disciples, that thou 
knowest all things. His knowledge is boundless, 
his understanding is infinite. 

Some object to the possibility of the resurrection, 
on. account of the confused state in which the dead 
at present lie. Thousands are cast together into 
the grave, where their bodies dissolve together into 
dust. Some have been burnt to ashes ; others de- 
voured by the birds of the air, the beasts of the 
field, and the monsters of the deep. 

We admit that the confusion is too great for man 
to distinguish between body and body, dust and 
dust. But that which is obscurity and confusion to 
us, is light and order to Him whose knowledge is 
perfect. All things are open and naked to the eyes 
of Him with whom we have to do. God knew 
from the beginning the substance that should con- 



80 SERMONS. 

stitute tlie body of every individual of the human 
race. This idea of the profound knowledge of the 
Deity, filled the mind of holy David with reveren- 
tial awe, and moved his lips in songs of solemn 
praise. " I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and 
wonderfully made : marvellous are thy works, and 
that my soul knoweth right well. My substance 
was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, 
and curiously wrought in the lower parts of the 
earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being 
imperfect ; and in thy book all my members were 
written, which in continuance were fashioned, when 
as yet there was none of them. How precious also 
are all thy thoughts to me, God ! How great is 
the sum of them ! If I should count them, they 
are more in number than the sand : when I awake 
I am still with thee." Therefore, when the bodies 
of men return to dust again, the omniscient Je- 
hovah shall behold them as in open day. From 
him "the grave has no covering." We know that 
a skillful chemist can decompose compounded mat- 
ter, and reduce it to its simple principles ; the 
miner can separate the precious ore from the com- 
mon earth ; the little child is early taught to dis- 
cern between sand and clay ; the beast of the field 
can select nutritious herbage from among noxious 
weeds ; and even the inanimate loadstone can separ- 
ate particles of iron from a confused heap of pow- 
dered metals ; how much more can He, who is the 
great Alchemist of the universe, who taught man 
knowledge, who giveth instinct to the beast of the 



SERMONS. 81 

field, and endoweth the magnet with attracting 
quality ; how much more, I say, can the Lord dis- 
tinguish between dust and dust, particle and parti- 
cle, and give to each body its own constituent parts ! 

3. We may further show the possibility of the 
resurrection, from the wisdom of God. He is wise 
in heart, as well as mighty in strength. All nature 
proclaims the wisdom of the Most High. The Lord 
by wisdom hath founded the earth ; by understand- 
ing hath he established the heavens. " Lord, 
how manifest are thy works ; in wisdom hast thou 
made them all; the earth is full of thy riches." 
Therefore the conclusion is just when we say, that 
he who reared the universe from nothing, hath wis- 
dom to raise the dead, and clothe his saints with 
immortal beauty. 

You would not dispute the possibility, if a skill- 
ful builder were to tell you, I will pull down this 
house ; I will raze its very foundation, and throw 
the materials into a confused heap ; and then I will 
take the same materials, and build a new house on 
an improved plan, which shall exceed this in both 
strength and beauty. You will all admit that a man 
may do this. Well, why should it be a thing in- 
credible with you, that God should raise the dead, 
seeing that in him all perfections dwell. His know- 
ledge is boundless. To him, the place or places are 
known where every human body lies, and the sever-, 
al particles which composed the body of each indi- 
vidual of Adam's race that died, are open and naked 
to his all-discerning eye. His wisdom is infinite to 



82 SERMONS. 

guide and direct in the marvelous work of raising 
the dead. His power is almighty, and to him all 
things are possible. This establishes our point be- 
yond all contradiction : — the possibility of the resur- 
rection. 

II. The certainty of the resurrection. 

When we were discoursing on the possibility of 
the resurrection, we were under no necessity of con- 
fining ourselves to the scriptures alone for evidence ; 
for heaven and earth, with all their hosts, stood by 
to establish the fact. Reason approved of their- tes- 
timony, and the word of God sealed the truth. 

Yet we must not stop here ; but proceed to prove 
that God will certainly raise the dead. Those who 
disbelieve the doctrine of the resurrection, dare not 
dispute the possibility of it, if they acknowledge 
God to be all-wise and almighty. But here their 
difficulty lies — whether God will raise the dead or 
not. This difficulty I shall endeavor to remove ; 
and, by the help of God, show clearly that it is his 
blessed will so to do. As it regards the will of the 
Almighty, it is made known to us in the scriptures 
of truth. Here he hath unfolded his designs, and 
the counsels of his own will respecting the human 
family. Hence the appellation of testament is given 
to the word, as being the last will and testament of 
Jesus Christ our Lord, confirmed by oath, and seal- 
ed by blood. 

Now, give attention ! all of you give attention 
to* the plain and unequivocal testimonies of God on 
the subject! Speaking of his people, he saith, in 



SERMONS. 83 

Hosea xiii : 14, "I will ransom them fiom the 
power of the grave; I will redeem them from 
death : death, I will be thy plagues ; grave, I 
will be thy destruction: repentance is hid from 
mine eyes." Here Jehovah declares his will, in the 
most positive terms. The bodies of the people of 
God who fell asleep in Christ, are in the dominion 
of death, and under the power of the grave ; but 
death and the grave shall not triumph forever. He 
will ransom them from the power of the grave, and 
redeem them from death. Then he proclaims the 
final overthrow of the monarch of terrors, and the 
destruction of his strong hold. " death, I will 
be thy plagues ; O grave, I will be thy destruction." 
The words ransom and redeem are synonymous in 
this passage, and mean the resurrection of the body. 
The same language is also used in the New Testa- 
ment, Eomans viii : 23. " Even we ourselves groan 
within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, 
the redemption of our body." 

The eternal God declares that he will raise the 
dead ; and who is he that can hinder him ? The 
dead cannot : for as men were passive in their crea- 
tion, they shall also be passive in the resurrection. 
Death cannot : for death, the last enemy, will be 
destroyed. " Death shall be swallowed up in vic- 
tory." " There will be no more death : " therefore 
there shall be no more dead. The cause being re- 
moved, the effect must cease. The grave cannot 
retain its prisoners longer than the appointed hour. 
God will open the grave, and destroy its power, and 



84 SERMONS. 

his saints shall rise. and sing — " death! where is 
thy sting ? grave ! where is thy victory ? " Je- 
hovah hath determined to raise the dead. The de- 
cree is irrevocably fixed, the word is gone forth, 
and repentance is hid from his eyes. 

Listen to another passage, spoken by our adorable 
Redeemer, John vi : 89, 40, "And this is the Father's 
will, which hath sent me, that of all which he hath 
given me I shall lose nothing, "but should raise it 
up again at the last day. And this is the will of 
him that sent me, that everyone that seeththe Son, 
and believeth on him, may have everlasting life, 
and I will raise him up at the last day." The Father, 
in the everlasting covenant, gave a people to the 
Son, and in the passage before us Christ declares 
the Father's will respecting them : that not one of 
them, nor any part of them, be lost; "that of all 
which he hath given me, I should lose nothing." 
The Son of God is faithful to his trust. He suffered 
to redeem them from the curse of the law. He suf- 
fered in soul for their souls, and in body for their 
bodies, and he will raise up the purchase of his 
blood at the last day. So intent was the Saviour to 
impress this consoling truth on the minds of his 
disciples he repeated it, and assured them that it is 
not only the will of the Father, but also his own 
will ; " and I will raise him up at the last day." 

Hear another of the solemn declarations of the 
Son of G-od on the subject. He introduceth it -by 
asserting his power to raise to life those that are 
spiritually dead, or to renew them by his grace. 



SERMONS. 85 

John v: 25, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the 
hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear 
the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear 
shall live." This passage is the same for substance, 
as that which he spoke to Nicodemus : " Verily, 
verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, 
he cannot see the kino;dom of heaven." Nicodemus 
said, how can this be ? and those whom he address- 
ed in this passage were equally ignorant of the work 
of the divine Spirit: they marvelled. 

Then Christ proceeds to tell them of a still more 
marvelous transaction ; when his power should be 
displayed in the resurrection of the dead. " Mar- 
vel not at this," (that some of those who are dead 
"in trespasses and sins shall rise,) " for the hour is 
coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall 
hear his voice, and shall come forth ; they that have 
done good unto the resurrection of life, and they 
that have done evil unto the resurrection of damna- 
tion." Nothing can be plainer or more expressive 
than these words of our Lord. " The hour is com- 
ing:" the precise time is fixed in the Eternal mind, 
and is drawing on apace. Every revolving year brings 
with it some of the visible signs of its near ap- 
proach. Nature hath replenished her stores with 
the devouring flame, and stands waiting for her 
God. The voice of Revelation cries to the sleeping 
children of men, " Be ye also ready ! " " Behold 
the Judge standeth before the door." "All that are 
in the graves shall hear his voice, and come forth." 
Every individual of Adam's race, rich and poor, 
4 



86 SERMONS. 

high and low, great and small, "bond and free ; even 
those who are deaf to the melodious voice of mercy, 
must hear the grave-rending and dead-awakening 
voice of the Judge supreme, and repair to his dread 
tribunal, from which there is no appeal. 

Our Lord gives us here the distribution of the 
parties, which are two ; namely, they that have done 
good, and they that have done evil. The apostle 
Paul, who was faithful to his divine Master, testi- 
fied the same, Acts xxiv. 14, 15, "But this I con- 
fess unto thee, that after the way which they call 
heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, be- 
lieving all things that are written in the law and in 
the prophets ; and have hope toward God, which 
they themselves also allow, that there shall be a re- 
surrection of the dead, both of the just and the un- 
just." To these agree the words of the angel who 
spake to the prophet Daniel, Daniel xii. 2, " And 
many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth, 
shall awake ; some to everlasting life, and some to 
shame and everlasting contempt." " They shall be 
judged every one according to his works." The 
sentence will be grounded on the works done in 
the body. Good works will appear as indications 
of the sincere motives which actuated the saints in 
life ; that they loved Christ, that they were sancti- 
fied by his Spirit, and possessed a faith which 
wrought by love. On the other hand, the omission 
of good works will evidence the wicked to have 
been alienated from the life of God ; void of love 
to the gracious Redeemer; and actuated by the 



SERMONS. 87 

vilest propensities : being unsanctified and unholy. 
" Therefore, these shall go away into everlasting 
punishment, but the righteous into life eternal." 

2. The holy patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and 
martyrs, with the whole church of God, believed 
and testified that God will raise the dead. Time 
would fail to mention all the passages in holy writ, 
therefore let a few of them suffice for the present. 
1 Samuel ii. 6, " The Lord killeth and maketh 
alive, he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth 
up." Job. xix. 25, " For I know that my Re- 
deemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter 
day on the earth ; and though after my skin worms 
destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God : 
whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall 
behold, and not another ; though my reins be con- 
sumed within me." Job did not mean by this sub- 
lime testimony, a restoration from affliction and 
poverty to health and temporal prosperity, as some 
vainly imagine. This he did not expect, as his own 
words clearly prove, chapter xvii. 1, 11, 14, " My 
breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves 
are ready for me, my days are past, my purposes 
are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. I 
have said to corruption, thou art my father; to the 
worm, thou art my mother and my sister." Death 
he expected, death he desired. He had formed an 
intimate acquaintance with death and the loathsome 
grave, so that he considered worms and corruption 
his familiar friends. Do you ask what made the 
grave, the gloomy grave, appear so pleasant to Job ? 



05 SERMONS. 

I answer, the glorious hope of the resurrection. 
By faith he saw the day when his Redeemer should 
appear, and raise him from the dust of death. He 
had such an animating view of the blessed Saviour, 
and of the glory that shall appear, as filled his soul 
with joy unspeakable, and made him desirous that 
the language he then uttered should descend to the 
latest posterity. " Oh that my words were now 
written ! Oh that they were printed in a book ! 
that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in 
the rock for ever ! For I know that my Redeemer 
liveth," &c. This he calls the root of the matter. 

The knowledge of Christ, and of his ability to 
save to the uttermost, even from the power of death, 
is the ground of Christianity in the soul ; and where 
this is wanting, all is wanting. John xi. 24, " Martha 
said unto him, I know that" my brother " shall 
rise again in the resurrection at the last day." "We 
find Paul, in a variety of places, contending earnest- 
ly for this doctrine of the faith once delivered to 
the saints. This he preached wherever he went ; 
and for this he endured persecution and reproaches. 
Acts xxiii. 6, " Of the hope and resurrection of the 
dead, I am called in question." But the cause of 
his persecution was his support to endure it. "With 
this he excited the saints to holiness and heavenly 
mindedness; with this he animated them under 
their afflictions, and led their minds to trust in God, 
who raiseth the dead ; and, like his divine Master, 
pointed them to the great reward that awaited them 
at the resurrection of the just. This was the cor- 



SERMONS. 89 

dial which he administered to the disconsolate 
minds of those who lamented the death of their 
Christian friends and relatives. 1 Thessalonians iv. 
14, " If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, 
even so, them also which sleep in Jesus, will God 
bring: with him." The writings of the Xew Testa- 
ment abound with the delightful theme. Romans 
viii. 11, " If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus 
from the dead, dwell in you; he that raised up 
Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mor- 
tal bodies, by his Spirit that dwell eth in you." 1 
Cor. vi. 14, " God hath both raised up the Lord, 
and will raise up us by his own power." 

Thus you see that the word of God establishes 
this doctrine in the strongest manner, and that the 
holiest of men believed and taught the same. 

Xow let us attend to what Christ and his apos- 
tles said of them who denied the resurrection. In 
the davs of Christ there was a laro-e societv amono- 
the Jews who were called Sadducees, which said 
there would be no resurrection ; these had the auda- 
city to come to the Son of God to dispute the sub- 
ject. To whom the Saviour replied, " Ye do err, 
not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." 
Paul exhorted Timothy to avoid them. 2 Timothy 
ii. 16 — 18, "But shun profane and vain babblings : 
for they will increase unto more ungodliness ; and 
their word will eat as a canker : of whom is Hyme- 
neus and Philetus, who concerning the truth have 
erred, saving, that the resurrection is past already ; 
and overthrow the faith of some." Hvmeneus, 



90 SEKMONS. 

Philetus, and others, were once professors of the 
truth ; but they fell into this error, and said, that 
there would be no other resurrection than that of 
the soul from vice to virtue. They endeavored to 
persuade the church that it was past on them, and 
they need not expect another. The apostle Paul 
exercised the authority with which Christ invested 
him, and excluding them from the fellowship of 
the church, 1 Timothy i. 20, "delivered them unto 
satan, that they might learn not to blaspheme." 

This error Paul calls a blasphemy; because it 
was a plain contradiction of the God of truth, and 
included a denial of the resurrection of Christ : for 
the resurrection of Christ, and that of all the dead, 
are inseparably connected. If we deny one, we 
must deny the other ; or if we believe one, we must 
believe the other. 1 Cor. xv. 12, "Now if Christ 
be preached that he rose from the dead, how say 
some among yon, that there is no resurrection of 
the dead?" This is a glaring contradiction: one 
cannot be without the other. If the head be raised, 
the members must follow : but if the members re- 
main in the dust for ever, the head was not raised. 
1 Cor. xv. 13, " But if there be no resurrection of 
the dead, then is Christ not risen." "But Christ 
is risen," " and death shall have no more dominion 
over him ; " and because he liveth we shall live 
also. The pledge is given, the first fruits have as- 
cended, and the harvest will certainly be gathered 
in. This the word of truth declares ! This the 
people of God firmly believe ! For God is not man 



SERMONS. 91 

that he should lie, nor the Son of man that he 
should repent. Hath he said it, and shall he not 
do it ? Hath he spoken it, and shall he not make 
it good ? 

Now we shall proceed to the 

HI and last particular, which is, to show that the 
same body that dies shall be raised again. 

Some have supposed that God will furnish a body 
of an serial or spiritual substance, and not of the same 
constituent parts as possessed their former body. 
If this were the case, it would be improper to call 
it a resurrection; for the word signifies to raise 
again that which fell. And if some other sub- 
stance be raised, that will not be a resurrection, but 
a creation. It would be inconsistent with divine 
justice and goodness, to form a body out of some 
strange matter, and connect this body, (which 
neither did good nor evil) to a guilty and miserable 
soul, and sentence it to everlasting perdition. This 
can never be. The same body that sinned must 
suffer. The very identical body that served God 
will be glorified. That very body of the rich man 
who walked in flowing purple ; that, which fared 
sumptuously every day; that, which withheld the 
hand of charity from poor Lazarus, who perished 
at his inhospitable gate : yes, that very body must 
rise, and be reunited with that unhappy ghost that 
lifts up her eyes in torments ; must stand before 
tne burning throne, and bear its irrevocable doom : 
Depart from me, thou cursed, into everlasting fire, 
prepared for the devil and his angels ! For I was 



92 SEEMONS. 

an hungered, and thou gavest me no meat. He 
that showed no mercy, shall have judgment with- 
out mercy. Behold him who was once clothed in 
purple, now covered with shame and everlasting 
contempt : that body of Lazarus which was clothed 
with rags, afflicted with sores, and wasted with hun- 
ger, shall rise in glory, without spot or wrinkle, or 
any such thing. He shall hunger no more, nor say 
I am sick. He shall freely eat of the tree of life 
which is in the midst of the paradise of God, and 
stand on mount Zion with the Lamb, clothed in a 
white raiment of perfect righteousness and purity. 
"We shall now proceed to give a further proof of 
the subject. It is evident from scripture that there 
are persons now in heaven, with the same bodies 
for substance as they had on earth. It is said, in 
Genesis v. 24, "And Enoch walked with God, and 
he was not : for Gocl took him." Of all the other 
patriarchs, it is expressly said, that they died. But 
of Enoch it is said, "he was not." This does not 
mean that he was not in existence : but the mean- 
ing is this ; he was not on the earth, nor in the 
earth. The question is, "Where is he ? The latter 
clause of the verse furnishes us with an answer, 
"for God took him." He was translated from earth 
into the presence of the Deity. Heb. xi. 5, " By 
faith Enoch was translated that he should not taste 
of death ; and was not found, because God had 
translated him." Here some may object, and say, 
" that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom 
of Gocl." This is true ; flesh and blood, in itspres- 



SERMONS. 93 

ent corrupt state, cannot inhabit the realms of per- 
fect purity ; but Enoch was changed or translated. 
His change was like to that which will take place 
on those that shall be alive on the earth at the 
second coming of Christ ; and equivalent to a death 
and resurrection in its effects. The apostle calls it 
a translation — a word used with reference to the re- 
moving of something from one state to another ; as 
it is said of Abner, that he intended to translate 
the kingdom of Israel from the house of Saul to 
that of David. 

In common we use the word translate in reference 
to the act of conveying or transferring the sub- 
stance of books from one language to another. The 
Bible was translated from the original Hebrew and 
Greek into the English language ; yet we believe 
it to be the same Bible for substance, and that the 
translation of it did not alter the subject matter of 
it; but only clothed the original ideas with new 
sounds. When men translate, the original gains 
nothing by passing through their hands, but when 
God translates, from earth to heaven, the original 
is greatly improved, as was Enoch. This transla- 
tion is not a turning of the body into a spirit, nor 
into another body, but into a spiritual body. It is 
the same body, for substance, but endowed with the 
spiritual qualities of incorruption and immortality, 
as the apostle abundantly proves, 1 Cor. xv. 51 — 53, 
" Behold I show you a mystery: we shall not all 
sleep ; but we shall all be changed in a moment, in 
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, (for the 



94 SERMONS. 

trumpet shall sound,) and the dead shall be raised 
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this 
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mor- 
tal must put on immortality." 

Elijah, the prophet, was also taken up to God. 
2 Kings ii. 11, &c. The passage gives three con- 
clusive arguments to prove his ascension to heaven. 

First, The express declaration of the Word: "Eli- 
jah was taken up in a whirlwind into heaven." It 
does not say the soul of Elijah; but Elijah, all of 
Elijah, his soul and body ; not towards heaven only, 
but into heaven. 

Secondly, Elisha saw him ascending and cried, 
"My father ! my father ! the chariot of Israel, and 
the horsemen thereof; " and we all know that mor- 
tal eyes cannot discern the flight of a disembodied 
spirit ; therefore his body ascended, or how could 
Elisha have seen him going up ? 

Thirdly, His mantle fell from him. On this I 
need say no more than only remind you, that a man- 
tle was then, as it is now, a covering for the body, 
and not for the soul ; hence the body went up, or 
how could the garment have fallen ? 

A person informed me lately of some men who 
argue strenuously, that the body of Elijah fell to 
the earth. At this I do not so much wonder ; be- 
cause there were fifty strong men of the sons of the 
prophets, then in Jericho, that thought so too. 
These were so anxious to go in search after the man 
of God, that their urgency made Elisha ashamed; 
and as there was no other way to convince them of 



SERMONS. 95 

their mistake, lie permitted tliem to go for their own 
satisfaction. However, after three clays they re- 
turned, convinced of their weakness ; (for the epi- 
thet strong does not always convey the idea of men- 
tal vigor ;) yet it did not once enter into the minds 
of the men of Jericho to imagine, that the mantle, 
which Elisha held in his hand, was the "body of the 
prophet. 

Persons will turn many ways to evade the force 
of truth ; but truth will prevail, truth will be vic- 
torious. These translated men of God are com- 
plete before the throne ; and furnish an incontesta- 
ble argument that all the redeemed, in their own 
bodies, will reach the happy realms of immortal 
purity. 

God is a God of order, and confusion shall not 
dwell in his presence. TVlien time shall close and 
be no more, he will establish the order of eternity ; 
when every seed shall have its own body, and all be 
consigned to their proper places. Then shall the 
ransomed of the Lord return,' and come to Zion 
with everlasting joys on their heads. All the blood- 
bought throng shall be as Enoch and Elijah are, 
and each shall say with holy Job, in my flesh I see 
God. 

Christ arose from the dead with the same body 
that suffered on Calvary : and it is evident that his 
blessed body was not changed into a spirit ; for he 
himself said to his terrified disciples, "Behold my 
hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me 
and see ; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye 
see me have." 



96 SERMONS. 

Well, my brethren, this is the glorious pattern of 
our resurrection, if we are his. He is the first 
fruits of them that slept ; he is the first born from 
the dead ; which implies that he has brethren to 
follow him. 0, yes ! he is the first born among 
many brethren, and in all things he shall have the 
pre-eminence. He hath said to Zion, " Thy dead 
men shall live ; together with my dead body shall 
they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust, 
for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth 
shall cast out the dead." The breaker is gone up. 
He " hath abolished death, and brought life and 
immortality to light through the gospel." He " shall 
change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like 
unto his glorious body, according to the working 
whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto 
himself." Like unto his glorious body ! This ab- 
sorbs the soul in wonder, love, and praise. For as 
we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall 
also bear the image of the heavenly, "when this 
corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this 
mortal shall have put on immortality : then shall be 
brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is 
swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy 
sting? grave, where is thy victory?" Thanks 
be to G-od who giveth us the victory, through our 
Lord Jesus Christ." 

We do not pretend to comprehend immortality : 
yet, through grace, we have now and then a glim- 
mering view of immortal glory breaking on the 
soul. We see the land that is afar off, and the 



SERMONS. 97 

king in his beauty ; but, ah ! bow dim in compari- 
son to the beatific vision ! !N"ow we see through a 
glass darkly, but then face to face ! All things with 
us now are in part ; but when that which is perfect 
is come, that which is in part shall be done away ; 
all imperfections will be excluded ; nothing to mo- 
lest, nothing to annoy. 

" Nor sorrow, nor sickness, nor pain, 
Nor sin, nor temptation, nor fear, 
Shall ever molest me again ; 

Perfection of glory reigns there.*' 

It will be perfection in the highest. It doth not 
yet appear what we shall be : but we know that 
when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we 
shall see him as he is. Therefore, beloved brethren, 
having this glorious prospect before us, " let us run 
with patience the race that is set before us, looking 
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith ; " 
and " be ye steadfast and immoveable, always 
abounding in the work of the Lord ; forasmuch as 
ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 

A word of comfort to believers: — You daily 
mourn under a feeling sense of the plague of your 
own hearts ; you groan, being burdened with a body 
of sin and death. Look forward to the coming of 
your great Deliverer, who will remove the cause of 
all your sorrows, and wipe your tears away. ~No 
more will you complain of the wanderings of your 
heart ; nor of a law of your members warring 
against the law of your mind. In that happy state 
there will be no opposition ; the fiesh will no more 
lust against the spirit, nor the spirit against the 



98 SERMONS. 

flesh; but every power of soul and of body shall 
move together in delightful harmony, and swell the 
seraphic numbers of the everlasting song. 

Some of you are enfeebled by years, your bodily 
powers are daily declining, your feet can scarcely 
bear you any more to the place where your soul de- 
lighteth to be, even the house of God, the place 
where his honor dwelleth. Your ears begin to fail 
in conveying the joyful sound of the everlasting 
gospel to the soul. Your voice, that used to join 
the solemn song, has lost her melody ; she sings no 
more. The eyes grow dim with age, and with dif- 
ficulty now they trace the lines which grace hath 
drawn in the book of God. Oh, aged friends ! 
look by faith to the day of your deliverance from 
the grave, when Christ shall give you a body like 
his own. Then shall your ears hear the voice of 
your beloved calling from his throne, " Rise up my 
love, my fair one, and come away." "The winter 
(of death) is past, the rain (of affliction) is over and 
gone ! Arise, my love, my fair one, and come 
away!" Then your feet shall run with alacrity 
along the shining way to meet the Lord in the air, 
your eyes shall see your Saviour God. Behold our 
God, we have waited for him, he appeareth for our 
salvation ! You shall complain no more for the 
want of abilities to serve the Lord, for every power 
will be perfect to praise, love, and adore "him that 
sitteth on the throne, and the Lamb, for ever and 
ever." 

Many of those whom Jesus loves, are sick. Re- 



SERMONS. 99 

ligion does not exempt from sickness and sorrow ; 
but she promises strength to endure them, and 
holds forth the resurrection of the dead, as the uni- 
versal remedy for all the afflictions of the people of 
God. ! thou afflicted and tossed with tempest, 
be not discouraged, though your body wasteth 
away with disease, and though your physicians 
give you up as incurable ; there is a balm yet in 
Gilead ! there is a physician there ! Look by faith 
to the bleeding, dying Lamb of God, who is able 
to save you to the uttermost. Take the warrant he 
gives in his blessed word, "he that believeth in me, 
though he were dead, yet shall he live." 

The present state of existence scarcely deserves 
the name of life, for at best it is but a dying life. 

" The moment we begin to live, 
We all begin to die." 

It is like a shadow, always declining until it disap- 
pears. Look beyond the present scene to a blessed 
immortality, when your vile body shall be fashioned 
like unto the glorious body of the Son of God ! 

This subject, so full of consolation to believers, 
wears a terrible aspect to the ungodly. You also 
will have a concern in the transactions of that great 
day ! The grave will not hide you from the face of 
him that sitteth on the throne. u ¥e must all ap- 
pear before the judgment-seat of Christ." "And I 
saw the dead, small and great, stand before God : 
and the books were opened : and another book was 
opened, which is the book of life : and the dead 
were judged out of those things which were written 
LffC 



100 SERMONS. 

in the books, according to their works. And who- 
soever was not found written in the book of life 
was cast into the lake of fire." 

sinner, sinner ! Lay this to heart betimes, 
ere the things that belong to your peace be hid 
from your eyes, and you are called away in your 
crimes and pollutions to appear before God. Then 
your case will be unalterably fixed. Eternity, long 
immeasurable eternity, will open on your soul, and 
fill you with deep despair ! Then all will be lost 
and irrecoverable ! the day of grace have fled, the 
accepted time gone ! the harvest past, the summer 
over, and the soul not saved ! solemn thought ! 
O that ye were wise to consider it in time ! Fly, 
instantly fly to Christ, the friend of sinners, that 
you may be counted worthy to escape those things 
that shall overtake the ungodly, and stand approved 
before the Son of man at his coming:. 



SERMON III. 



A QUESTION CONCEEJSTN'G CUEIST. 

" What think ye of Christ ? "—Mat. xxii: 42. 

This is a short question, "but a right answer is of 
immense importance. Eternal life or eternal death 
depends upon the solution. Many are regardless 
of their thoughts as though they exerted no influ- 
ence on the soul's destiny. Friends be not deceived. 
Your thoughts may be concealed from men, but not 
from God, who searcheth the hearts and trieth the 
reins, and will bring every work into judgment 
with all our secret things. The human conduct is 
governed by the thoughts of the heart as the ship 
is turned by the helm, or your watch is kept in mo- 
tion by the spring. As we think of the person 
and character of Christ so is our faith. If we es- 
teem Jesus to be what the word of truth represents, 
then is our faith that of God's elect, founded on 
truth as immovable as the eternal throne. The 
thoughts of good men may differ on natural sub- 
jects, such as government, philosophy and ethics, 
and their eternal interests be not affected thereby ; 
but erroneous thoughts of Christ's person and char- 



102 SERMONS. 

acter, if persisted in, will prove fatal to the soul. 
" If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your 
sin, and where I go thither ye cannot come." God 
has given a rule to regulate our thoughts, which is, 
conformity to his thoughts ; and he complains of 
us departing from it, saying — " Your thoughts are 
not my thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." 
We have God's thoughts in His Holy Word, on 
every important subject, and especially in relation 
to Jesus Christ. We shall, therefore, proceed to 
inquire : 

I. What relation Christ bears to God. 

II. What relation he bears to men. 

The investigation of these two points, under the 
teaching of the Spirit, will help us to entertain right 
views and thoughts of Christ, and so insure eternal 
life. " This is life eternal, to know thee, the only 
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." 

I. "What relation does Christ bear to God? 

What think ye of Christ — whose Son is he f Let 
us hear God's own testimony on this most weighty 
and important subject. He that hath ears to hear 
let him hear with the greatest care. The word of 
God only can settle the great question. 

" This is the judge that ends the strife 
Where wit and reason fail ; 
Our guide to everlasting life, 
Through all this gloomy vale.' 1 

There was a man sent from God whose name was 
John, to make known the coming one and prepare 
the way before him. John administered gospel 
baptism to him, and when Jesus was baptized " he 



SERMONS. 103 

went up straightway out of the water, aud lo ! the 
heaveus were opeued to him, and he saw the Spirit 
descending like a dove, and lighting upon him, and 
lo ! a voice from Heaven saying this is my beloved 
Son in whom I am well pleased." 

On another occasion " Jesus took Peter, and 
James and John to a high mountain apart, and was 
transfigured before them. And there were two 
men talking with Him which were Moses and Elias, 
who appeared in glory, who spake of His decease 
which He should accomplish at Jerusalem." The 
evangelist Luke tells us the subject which occupied 
the attention of that wonderful conference. It 
was the death of Jesus — their substitute and ours. 
The spirits of these glorified ones felt an intense 
interest in their divine surety, who was about to 
lay down his life to cancel the claims of justice, as 
well on their behalf as for all that should thereafter 
believe on his name. Brethren, what subject can 
better employ our thoughts and tongues when we 
meet in conference than the glorious person, the 
immaculate life and vicarious death of the Son of 
God ? See on yonder mountain two glorified saints, 
who have left their thrones in heaven and the 
sweet music of the upper skies for the sake of an 
hour's conference with Jesus, on the great atone- 
ment that was to be made at Jerusalem. K~ow it 
is made. Oh yes. Jesus cried from the elevated 
cross "It is finished." Let us not begrudge our 
time and toil in coming together to talk over the 
victory of Calvary.* Let us pass the word to 

* Preached at Bloomfield, before the East New Jersey Pastors' Conference. 



104 SERMONS. 

saints and sinners. — " It is finished" Halelnjah to 
the Lamb that was slain ! If we thus talk and feel, 
Jesus will come to our conference and we shall say 
" It is good to be here." A cloud separated them, 
and Jesus only was visible, but a voice came from 
the cloud saying : " This is my beloved Son in whom 
I am well pleased, hear ye him." What think ye 
of Christ in his relation to God ? He is the Son of 
God in a more exalted sense than any created beings. 
Christians are made sons of God by adoption, but 
Christ is the Son of God from eternity. There was 
no point in eternity when He was not the Son of 
God. His Sonship constitutes him one with the 
Father. " I and my Father are one." One in na- 
ture and essence, one in purpose aiid design, one in 
will and action. " My Father worketh and I work." 
One in name and every divine perfection. Every 
name by which the true God is known is ascribed to 
the Son. All works of power, which none but God 
can do, such as creation, the resurrection of the 
dead, and the final judgment, are ascribed to him. 
As the Father is omnipresent so is the Son. " Lo ! I 
am with you alway, even to the end of the world." 
As the Father is omniscient so is the Son. " I know 
thy works and where thou dwellest." " I am he that 
searcheth the heart and reins." " Thou knowest 
what is in man." As the Father is eternal so is 
Jesus Christ " the same yesterday, to-day and for- 
ever; — the "Alpha and the Omega, the first and 
the last." As the Father receives worship from 
angels and men so does Jesus. When he brought 



SERMONS. 105 

in the first-begotten into the world lie said " Let all 
the angels of God worship him." " To him every 
knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that 
Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." 

I have briefly shown Christ's relation to God. 
What think ye of Christ f Are your thoughts in har- 
mony with the thoughts of God, of angels, and of 
all holy men, from righteous Abel to the present 
time ? Does your heart respond to the divine testi- 
mony, and do you say with John " This is the true 
God and eternal life." " On His head let the 
crown flourish." 

Christ claimed this relationship. In solemn 
prayer he said — " Father glorify thy Son that thy 
Son also may glorify thee." The Father approved 
his claim, saying — " I have both glorified thee and 
will glorify thee again." " "Who being in the form 
of God thought it not robbery to be equal with 
God." The Jews accused him of blasphemy and 
adjudged him worthy of death, " Because, say they, 
thou sayest I am the Son of God, making thyself 
equal with God." They rightly understood him, 
otherwise he would doubtless have corrected their 
mistake and saved himself from death. All his 
mighty works were performed to induce faith in his 
divine personality and character. 2s~o mighty works 
were necessary to persuade the people that Jesus of 
Nazareth was a man — a good man, a teacher of pure 
morals, whose benevolent life was a perfect model 
for imitation. But all this fell short of faith in 
Christ. There is no " God manifest in the flesh" 



106 SERMONS. 

in it. It is natural — human, not the faith of God's 
elect. A belief in Jesus as a mere man, being with- 
out a divinity in its object, and without divine 
power in its production, is radically different from 
the faith which the disciples professed and Christ 
ratified, when in answer to his question, " Whom 
say ye that I am? " Peter said for himself and his 
brethren "we believe and are sure that thou art 
the Christ the Son of the living God." The Master 
replied, " Blessed art thou Simon Barjona, for flesh 
and blood have not revealed this unto thee ; but 
my Father which is in Heaven." Their faith had 
a divine object produced in them by a divine re- 
vealer. "What think ye of Christ?" Do I hear 
you say " We believe and are sure that he is the 
Christ, the Son of the living God." Then the 
blessedness of the early disciples is yours. Let us 
proceed to show — 

II. The relation oe Christ to men. In pro- 
phecy the Messiah was to be the " seed of the 
woman who was to bruise the serpent's head." 
" The seed of Abraham" in whom all earth's fami- 
lies were to be blessed. "The rod out of the 
stem of Jesse;" "The root and offspring of 
David;" "The child born;" "The Son given;" 
"Immanuel, God with us; " " The daysman," capa- 
ble of putting his hand on offended Deity and on 
offending man, reconciling both by the blood of his 
cross. "Great is the mystery of Godliness; God 
manifest in the flesh." In view of this stupendous 
display of divine love, who can forbear singing with 



SERMONS. 107 

the inspired children of Jerusalem " Hosanna to 
the Son of David! blessed is he that cometh in the 
name of the Lord, peace on earth and glory in the 
highest." Look up, poor helpless sinner, thy friend 
has come. Close with his terms and be friendless 
no more. He loveth at all times, and is a brother 
born for adversity. His errand in the world is to 
seek His poor lost relations. He comes not empty 
handed. " It pleased the Father that in Him all 
fulness should dwell." He brings atoning blood to 
make thy peace with God ; a salve to heal tlry 
wounded spirit; a righteousness to cover thy sin- 
polluted soul, so that the eye of Justice will fail to 
find a single blemish. sinner, stand not aloof 
from thy heavenly relative. Come near and be in- 
troduced to him to-day. He seeks thy acquaint- 
ance; he knocks this moment at the door of thy 
heart, saying " Open to me and I will sup with thee, 
ami thou with me," "What think ye of Christ?" 

" Say, will you to Mount Zion go ? 
Say, will you have this Christ or no ? 

lie is not a stranger, but a near kinsman, who 
came all the way from Heaven to redeem you and 
restore your lost inheritance. He is bone of our 
bone and flesh of our flesh ; none can sympathise 
with your infirmity as Jesus can ; he sees the conflict 
now going on in your bosom. sinner, open thy 
heart wide and let the Saviour in to decide the 
struggle. 

I wish you to look at Christ in a number of the 
different positions he occupied to enable you to de- 



108 SERMONS. 

cide what you think of him. See Him as the great 
architect of the universe, sitting on the circle of 
the heavens and compassing the immensity of space, 
determining what point every orb shall occupy, and 
describing the circuit it shall travel until time shall 
end. Hear that voice calling all of them from non- 
entity into being. "Let there be light, and there 
was light." This mighty one, who spake and it 
was done, commanded and it stood fast, was Jesus 
Christ, whom we preach unto you. So saith the 
Spirit of truth : " In the beginning was the word, 
and the word was with God, and the word was God. 
All things were made by Him, and without Him was 
not anything made that was made" " For by Him 
were all things created; that are in Heaven and 
that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they 
be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or pow- 
ers : all things were created by Him and for Him. 
And He is before all things, and by Him all things 
consist." This all-creating Word " was made flesh, 
and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the 
glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of 
grace and truth." 

E"ow see the contrast. He that was rich for our 
sakes became poor, that we through his poverty 
might be made rich. Oh my friends what conde- 
scension ! This is love, not that we loved God, but 
that He loved us. What think ye of Christ's love ? 
See him an infant of days. What think ye of Christ 
in Bethlehem ? Not only the wise men of the east, 
but all the Angels of God adored that babe in the 



SERMONS. 109 

manger. "When he brought the first-begotten into 
the world, He said, "Let all the Angels of God wor- 
ship him." The flood-gates of love are opened 
wider than ever before; see the gentle, living stream 
gliding through the city of David, bearing peace, 
love and life to men on its tranquil bosom. Here 
is the embodiment of love. God so loved the 
world that he gave his only begotten son, that who- 
soever believeth in him should not perish but have 
eternal life. Behold him healing men's maladies. 
The blind are made to see, the deaf to hear, the 
lepers are cleansed, the lame leaps for joy, and at 
his word the dead revives. Look at these acts of 
mercy, and tell us "What think ye of Christ ?" 
who went about doing good. Have you any mala- 
dies for him to heal ? Spread them before him, for 
he is now passing by, and saying to you, sin-sick 
soul, "Wilt thou be made whole ?" 

Let us take a walk to Bethany. The little vil- 
lage is in mourning, for a good man has been laid 
in the grave. We will follow those pensive women 
who are going to the tomb. Do you see the man 
who stands in the midst of that sighing, weeping 
group ? It is the man of ^Nazareth. Mark ye how 
his holy bosom heaves with sympathy, and his lovely 
face is bedewed with tears. What think ye of 
Christ at the grave of his friend? Think ye that 
he had a feeling heart ? Xow witness the mani- 
festation of divine power. He cried with a loud 
voice, "Lazarus come forth,'' and death relinquish- 
ed his grasp. What think ye of Christ ? I think I 
5 



110 SERMONS. 

hear the whisperings of your hearts. Shall I give 
them utterance? Surely this is the resurrection 
and the life; the true God, and eternal life.* 

E"ow we will visit G-ethsemane and see the man 
of sorrows there. It is night, the moon is covered 
with a sable cloud of deep mourning; here are 
none of the flowers of Eden; they have been blighted 
by the devastating breath of sin. Walk softly! 
The high and holy one lies prostrate on the ground. 
Listen ! He prays — " 0, my Father, if it be possi- 
ble, let this cup pass from me, but not as I will but 
as thou wilt." What think ye of Christ in this 
position of great agony? Punishment and pains 
surely are the reward of sin, but in Jesus there was 
no sin. He was holy, harmless, and separate from 
sinners. "What think ye of the bitter pangs which 
the innocent one endured ? The Prophet explained 
the cause long before it transpired. "He was 
wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our 
iniquities. He bore our sins and carried our sor- 
rows." This he endured, my soul, for thee ! 
The son of man was betrayed, taken, led to the hall 
of judgment, falsely accused and unrighteously 
condemned. Let us follow the crowd to Calvary. 
See him on the dolorous way, bending beneath the 
ponderous cross, still retaining that calm, heavenly 
meekness. " He is led as a lamb to the slaughter, 
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he 
opened not his mouth. " Those blessed feet that 
bore him on errands of mercy were nailed to the 
cruel cross, and the hands long extended in acts of 



SERMONS. Ill 

benevolence were now stretched out and fastened 
with rugged nails to the tree, and the Son of God 
was raised between earth and heaven as if unworthy 
of both. The sons of earth rejected him and put 
him to death ; angels withheld their succor ; the 
sun that had shone for four thousand years refused 
for the first time to shed its cheering rays ; earth 
staggered and shook to its centre, when the weight 
of human guilt was rolled on the holy soul of him 
who stood in the sinner's stead. The disciples were 
scattered, and, more than all, the Father forsook 
him when his soul was made " an offering for sin." 
Yet the love of Christ for sinners was undying in 
death. " Father forgive them, for they know not 
what they do." He cried with a loud voice "It 
is finished." The payment is made; the bonds are 
cancelled; justice is satisfied; the law magnified; 
the believer saved. 

" O for this love let rocks and hills 
Their lasting silence break, 
And all harmonious human tongues 
The Saviour's praises speak. 1 ' 

What think ye of Jesus' dying words ? Will ye 
trust in his finished work? 

Behold him in one more position, and we will 
leave you to your own reflections. The grave was 
the lowest step in his humiliation, but the prison- 
house of death could not long retain him. He was 
delivered for our offences and was raised for our 
justification. He wrenched the sting from death 
and victory from the grave, and was manifested to 
be the Son of God with power, according to the 



112 SERMONS, 

Spirit of holiness by- his resurrection from the dead. 
Herein his credentials were ratified in heaven ; his 
stipulations to the eternal covenant were all fulfilled. 
JSTow he hath commanded us to publish, in his name, 
that " Whosoever believeth and is baptized, shall be 
saved; and he that believeth not shall be damned. What 
think ye or Christ? 



SERMON IV. 



A FATHER'S LEGACY. 

"And thou, Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy Father, and serve 
him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind ; for the Lord searcheth all 
hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts : if thou seek 
him, he will he found of thee ; hut if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off 
forever."— 1 Chrox. xxYiii : 9. 

God has implanted in the hearts of pious parents 
a deep solicitude for the welfare of their immediate 
and remote posterity. They love to see them lead- 
ing a sober, industrious and moral life among men, 
useful in society, and leaving the world better for 
their sojourn in it. But the chief desire of a God- 
fearing father is that expressed in the text. 

I. David bewail his exhortation where true religion 
begins, that is, in sanctified knowledge. We can- 
not love God without knowing him ; we cannot be- 
lieve in Christ until we learn who he is, whence he 
came, and what he did to save sinners. "We have 
the word of God for this express purpose, and Christ 
commands us to search the scriptures, for they are 
they that testify of him. 2s"o one knows God aright 
but himself and those to whom he reveals himself 
through his Son, Jesus Christ. How much some 



114 SERMONS. 

men know of the works of God, and in them take 
special delight and satisfaction ; yet while admiring 
and praising the fabric they do not notice thefabrica- 
tor. Holy David, however, studied 'God's works 
that he might the better know and love Mm, and 
serve him with greater devotion and holy delight. 
" When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy 
fingers, the moon and the stars which thon hast 
made, what is man that thou art mindful of him, 
and the Son of man that thou visitest him ?" This 
is philosophy in the right direction. The Creator 
is exalted, his condescension is admired, and man 
is raised from his deep degradation. 

" My son, know thou the God of thy Father." 
All arts and knowledge beside will do thee but lit- 
tle good. 

Christ informed us what knowledge is absolutely 
necessary to enter into life. " This is life eternal, 
that they might know thee, the only true God, and 
Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." As God is a 
Spirit he must be spiritually known. " The natural 
man understandeth not the things of the Spirit of 
God, neither can he know them, for they are spirit- 
ually discerned." Hence you see the need of super- 
natural aid from the Holy One to know the Lord 
properly. To attain this, God gives us the Spirit 
in answer to prayer, and he will show us of the 
Father. "We must know God experimentally and 
increasingly. The sinner's first glimpse of God is 
very indistinct, therefore he should/oKow on to know 
the Lord. Look at him in creation. How great ! 



SERMONS. 115 

How wise ! How gloriously good is the Lord our 
God ! While your clevotiou asceuds toward his 
throue ou wiugs of love, he will unveil some of his 
matchless perfections to your astonished gaze, and 
let fall some drops of love on your longing heart, 
So will your experimental knowledge daily increase. 

Look again at the providence of God, as record- 
ed in your own brief history ; how he brought you 
into being in a land of gospel light, guided you by 
parental hands under the sound of a pure gospel, 
and brought you, as you trust, to the knowledge of 
the truth. To know God is to love and acknow- 
ledge him in all his ways. So did holy David, who 
said, while he was meditating on the particular 
providence of Gocl in relation to himself: " For thou 
hast possessed my reins ; thou hast covered me in 
my mother's womb; I will praise thee, for I am 
fearfully and wonderfully made ; marvellous are thy 
works, and that my soul knoweth right well. My 
substance was not hid from thee when I was made 
in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts 
of the earth-. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet 
being imperfect ; and in thy book all my members 
were written, which, in continuance, were fashion- 
ed, when as yet there was none of them. How pre- 
cious also are thy thoughts unto me, God ! How 
great is the sum of them ! " 

Yet from no point of view can we see and know 
the divine character with equal distinctness as we 
can from Calvary. Here, my dear children, let us 
daily resort, and view the wonder of all wonders, 



116 SERMONS. 

the High and Holy One bearing our sins in his own 
body on the tree. Truly this is love, not that we 
loved God, but that he loved us, and gave his Son 
to be a propitiation for our sins. At Calvary, all 
the streams of love and mercy concentrate in one 
reservoir; from there they are diffused abroad 
through the golden pipes of divine influence to sup- 
ply all the poor who thirst after righteousness, to 
heal all the broken-hearted, and revive the spirit 
of the contrite ones. 

"Here the whole Deity is known, 
Nor dares a creature guess, 
Which of the glories brightest shone, 
The Justice or the grace." 

In the acquirement of the Spirit's graces there is 
a chain-like connection. To know God is to love 
him ; to love him is to serve him ; to serve him is 
to enjoy him forever. 

II. The nature oe the service which we owe 
to God. — He is a Father, and he requires from us 
honor. His holy law enjoins upon children, " Honor 
thy father and thy mother." Much more are they 
bound to honor the God of their father and mother, 
who gave them their parents, without whose sym- 
pathy, tenderness and affection they would not have 
survived their infantile infirmities. To honor the 
gift is to honor the giver ; if we despise the gift we 
despise also the giver. If we honor not those whom 
we have seen, how can we honor Him whom we 
have not seen. The greatest honor that children 
can give their parents is to obey them in the Lord. 
The highest honor that men can render to God is 



SERMONS. 117 

to obey Mm in newness of spirit, and serve him 
implicitly with their bodies and spirits, which are 
his. God has a sovereign right to challenge honor 
and obedience from .all mankind. " If I am a 
father, where is mine honor ? If I am a master, 
where is my fear ? To hear is better than sacrifice, 
and to obey, than the fat of rams." 

It is Christ's prerogative to command, and your 
place to obey. "When you are perplexed concerning 
his will, approach him with humility and reverence, 
saying, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? Con- 
sult not your own opinions nor the views of others. 
The Master is always at hand to direct, and " what- 
soever he saith unto you, do it." Do it cheerfully, accord- 
ing to the pattern which he has laid before you. Do 
not alter it for it is perfect, just as the master de- 
signed it. He is particular. He was so when he 
enjoined types and shadows to be observed by Israel. 
The lamb must be of the first year, and without 
blemish ; the heifer must be red ; the material of 
the ark must be of shittim wood. Bezaleel, pre- 
sume not to say that the oak of Bashan or the wood 
of Lebanon will do as well. God's command must 
be exactly obeyed. The blue must be blue, the pur- 
ple, purple, the scarlet must be scarlet, for God hath 
said to Moses, "See that thou do all things ac- 
cording to the pattern shown thee in the Mount." 
Moses is commended for his strict faithfulness in the 
erection of the tabernacle ; but in one instance, 
twenty years afterward, when his spirit was grieved 
by the murmuring of the people, he smote the rock 



118 SERMONS. 

twice wken lie was only commanded to speak to it ; 
for that one disobedience lie was prohibited from 
entering Canaan. If God required such precision 
in the observance of the shadows, does He demand 
less since the substance has come? If that which is 
done away was glorious, how much more that which 
remaineth is glorious, for that had no glory in this 
respect, by reason of the glory (of Christ) that ex- 
celleth. 

If our Pedobaptist friends had been with Moses 
in the wilderness, they would have given the good 
man a world of trouble. Suppose him to tell a 
Levite to bring him a red heifer to make with her 
ashes water of separation from sin. A Doctor of 
the non-essential creed sees the faithful messenger 
of Moses searching among the herds ; he calls to 
him, here is a heifer, somewhat reddish, and beauti- 
fully sprinkled with white spots. " That will not 
do, sir, for God commanded Moses to get a red one, 
without spot or blemish. Moses loves and fears 
God, and whatsoever God commands, he does. I 
would not dare to take to the camp one different 
from that described." The Doctor said, a little 
hastily, "the color is non-essential." The other re- 
plied with great earnestness, " sir, a law that is 
non-essential is a law that is nonsensical, and I be- 
seech you not to ascribe nonsense to your Maker. 
Well, said the other, " I cannot see why one may 
not do as well as the other." "Well sir, be assured 
there is as much difference as there is between obe- 
dience and disobedience, and the time is at hand 



SERMONS. 119 

when many will return and discern between him 
that serveth God and him that serveth him not. 
Remember, my dear children, when God says a 
thing he means it, and he expects his people to obey 
him. Bless the Lord, that by his providence and grace 
he has led you to be Baptists. Be faithful to the 
principles laid down by Jesus Christ ; from them 
let no worldly consideration draw you. "Buy the 
truth and sell it not," says true wisdom. Among 
all the things of earth, you will find nothing equiva- 
lent to the truth as it is in Jesus. Let no earthly 
connection, no honor, nor worldly emolument cause 
you to swerve an inch from the heaven-established 
land-marks. While on this subject, let me endeavor 
to show you briefly the important position in which 
God in his providence has placed his baptized 
churches. It is plain to all observers of history 
that there is a strong tendency in the system of 
Pedobaptists to a worldly consolidation, or to lower 
that wall which Christ established, to which he re- 
fers in his words at Pilate's bar, "My kingdom is 
not of this world." Every child that is sprinkled 
is like a ball shot with a design to demolish this 
separating wall, and throw out the garden of God 
into the devil's common, to be trampled under foot 
by the man of sin, the son of perdition, who aims 
to destroy everything green planted by the hand of 
the great Husbandman. The Captain of our salva- 
tion has placed the Baptists to defend this wall at 
all hazards, and suffers none to enter the sacred en- 
closure but through the gate of regeneration, and 



120 SERMONS. 

then to pass through the deep baptismal stream 
into the kingdom according to his own example and 
strict command. Jesus gave the watch-word, and 
the solemnity of his manner in delivering it, plainly 
indicated that we are never to forget it. " Yerily, 
verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again 
he cannot see the kingdom of God." A man born 
of the Spirit may stand in the gate and see some of 
its internal spiritual light and glory; but Christ 
with equal solemnity told of another process in or- 
der to enter the kingdom and become a partaker of 
the immunities peculiar to the Church of God here 
below. Within, just at the threshold of the gate, 
there is a deep stream, without a bridge, through 
which all must pass. It is called by an Apostle, who 
well knew the process, (for he had gone through it 
at Damascus,) " The washing of regeneration and 
the renewing of the Holy Ghost." Jesus Christ 
told the astonished Senator of Israel, that he must 
be born of water as well as of the Spirit before he 
could enter into the community of God's people. 

"Yerily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be 
born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter 
into the kingdom of God." Christ, who knew the 
end from the beginning, foresaw the objections men 
would make to the order of his kingdom. Some 
would say, "we are born of the Spirit, what need 
we beside ; " others would say, " we have been bap- 
tized in water, and the Priest told us that was re- 
generation, or being born of the Spirit, and why 
should we trouble ourselves any more ?" The omni- 



SERMONS. 121 

scient Son of God met all these carnal objections 
long before they were formed into words, or con- 
ceived in the rebellious hearts of the children of 
men, and as the rightful King in Zion, he solemnly 
declared the divine order of his own kingdom, and 
what is requisite to enter it. "Born of water." 
How beautiful the figure ! How graphic the de- 
scription ! To realize it, you- have only to stand by 
some baptismal water, where a servant of the Most 
High God takes by the hand an obedient one, who 
has been reduced in mind by the Spirit of the Lord 
to the stature of a little child. He leads him in the 
footprints of Jesus down into the water and buries 
him therein ; now, see him, " born of water," as he 
rises from the flood, while the Spirit Divine renews 
the earnest, and whispers in his heart of pardoned 
sin. Now you are constrained to exclaim, surely 
this is to be born of water and of the Spirit; surely 
this is the way to enter the kingdom. Jesus has 
declared it in solemn words, and lest any of his peo- 
ple should fail to understand his meaning, he has 
made, wrth his own hand, in the ordinance of bap- 
tism a perfect draft of the whole process, and has 
commanded his disciples to exhibit it constantly 
until the clock of time shall cease its revolutions. 
Let Baptists be faithful to the trust which the head 
of the church has reposed in them. Defend the 
wall which Christ erected as a line of separation 
between the world and his Church, which he pur- 
chased with his own blood. For this you may 
be reproached as narrow-minded bigots, even by 



122 SERMONS. 

those whom you believe to be born again, and have 
had a glimpse of the kingdom, and are clamorous 
for entrance to all the inner immunities of the 
church of God. Tell them kindly that you do not 
keep them out. The kingdom is not yours but 
God's ; the tables and the dainties are not yours 
but Jesus Christ's. He purchased them at the dear- 
est rate, even with groans, tears, sweat and blood. 
Christ himself laid the restriction ; surely you will 
not dispute his right to do so; especially when we 
tell you so often it is your own fault which keeps 
you out. We had nothing to do in making the con- 
ditions. It is his decree who said, " Yerily, verily , 
I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and 
of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of 
God." We are only the unworthy subjects, whom 
in his sovereign pleasure, he has placed to guard 
the entrance of the kingdom and keep out the un- 
renewed in heart, and also his own children until 
they yield obedience to his law. Let not the king's 
sons and daughters presume to despise their Father's 
law. If Pedobaptists felt half the desire for full 
communion and fellowship in the gospel which the 
Baptists have, the blessed union would soon be con- 
summated. Baptists stand with open arms inviting 
their brethren to comply with the law of Christ's 
kingdom. 

Three things are requisite to serve God aright. 
First, the heart must be perfectly formed anew. 
The carnal mind is enmity against God and is not 
subject to his law, neither indeed can be. To serve 



SERMONS. 123 

God acceptably there must be a new creation — a 
new birth. If any man be in Christ he is a new 
creature. The enmity must be slain, and love oc- 
cupy its place. All the service that we can per- 
form will be vain without love in the heart as the 
motive power. Though I speak with the tongues of 
men and of angels and have not charity (love), I 
am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cym- 
bal. Christ showed the importance of love in his 
service, when in questioning Peter, he thrice asked 
him, lovest thou me ? in giving him his commission. 

" Serve him with a perfect heart and with a wil- 
ling mind." What is done willingly is done cheer- 
fully. God delights to see his children happy in 
his service, and realizing the truth of Jesus' words, 
" My yoke is easy and my burden is light." When 
love predominates in the heart, gloom and melan- 
choly are excluded. cherish the love of God in 
your heart and it will assimilate you to the heart of 
Jesus, and make you perfect in the love, which cast- 
eth out fear. Then you can pillow your dying 
head on the bosom of Him who loved and died in 
your stead, and " breathe your soul out sweetly 
there." 

Remember, that " The Lord searcheth all hearts, 
and understandeth all the imaginations of the 
thoughts." 

Man looketh on the countenance, but God looketh 
at the heart. Therefore keep thy heart with all 
diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Ac- 
cording to the moral state of the heart, in this life, 



124 SERMONS. 

will be the grand issues of the last day. the un- 
speakable blessing of being Israelites indeed in 
whom there is no guile. A good and honest heart 
and a conscience void of ofTence toward God and 
toward men, are pleasant companions on the jour- 
ney of life ; and surely they will be no sinking 
weights to the soul in passing the deep river of 
death. 

Again : in serving God with a perfect heart we 
must have an end in view that will meet the divine 
approbation. A selfish end will fail to secure the 
object. The great purpose and endeavor of life 
should be to glorify God in - our bodies and spirits 
which are his. The first petition taught us in the 
Lord's prayer is " hallowed be thy name, thy king- 
dom come." God is" glorified in the advancement 
of his spiritual kingdom in the salvation of men more 
than in all his work. Again, he said — " seek ye first 
the kingdom of God and his righteousness." The 
justice of Jehovah, as it stands forth before the uni- 
verse, in the cross of Christ, brings to his name a 
revenue of glory, which the praises of eternity can- 
not exhaust. 

" God in the person of Ms Son 
Has all his mightiest works outdone." 

If the saint desires to be saved from his sin, it is 
that he may cease to dishonor God ; if he wishes to 
go to heaven, one motive of that wish is that he 
may attain the best position to 

" Crown the Saviour Lord of all." 

His happiness he desires to ascribe to him who 



SERMONS. 125 

bore the penalty of bis sin in bis own body on tbe 
tree. 

Lastly : God must be served according to the rule 
which himself hath given, which is perfect and therefore 
unalterable. It is tbe word of God, wbicb livetb and 
abidetb forever. God bas endowed bis word with 
vitality as the good seed of tbe kingdom. It will 
vegetate and bring forth fruit when the great hus- 
bandman prepares the ground for its reception, ac- 
cording to bis promise; "I will take the stony 
heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of 
flesh." You are not to do things which God has 
not commanded, under the pretence of doing him 
service. Such service is condemned by the divine 
inquiry—" Who hath required this at your hands? 
They are vain oblations such as God will not accept. 



SERMON V. 



THE NATURE AND OFFICE OP ANGELS. 



" Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister unto them who 
shall he heirs of salvation ?— Heb. 1 : 14. 



The apostle, in this chapter, treats of the dignity 
and glory of Christ ; and in setting forth his excel- 
lency, he alludes incidentally to the angels, to 
whom he is superior in office and nature. 

The word angel signifies a messenger, and, in the 
original, is often applied to men who are sent upon 
messages ; but by long usage we have accustomed 
ourselves to apply it to the ministering spirits of the 
text, though it is used of men and even inanimate 
things in some places of the Bible. 

The name is expressive not of their nature but 
their office, as messengers from heaven to declare 
and execute the will of God. 

They are spiritual, not consisting of spirit and 
matter, of body and soul mysteriously united. They 
are unconnected with gross matter, and are not 
subject to the laws which govern the material part 
of creation. Gravitation, adhesion, attraction af- 
fect them not. When they are drawn to earth it is 



SERMONS. 127 

to witness God's love to guilty man, to witness the 
triumphs of the gospel in subjecting rebel sinners 
to the government of Christ. They manifest an 
intense interest in every transaction that brings 
glory to God, and hence they hovered over the city 
of David to see what they had never seen and feel 
what they had never felt. They gave expression to 
their emotions in that song, "Glory to God in the 
highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." 
They are intelligent and wise. The woman of 
Tekoah highly complimented David's wisdom when 
she said to him, "my Lord is wise according to the 
wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that 
are done in the earth." They have been diligent 
students for nearly six thousand years. At the crea- 
tion of our world, angels were present, admiring 
the power, wisdom and goodness of Jehovah. At 
his command, their wondering eyes beheld the new 
made beings bursting into existence, full of life and 
vigor, each bearing the impress of the divine hand 
upon its form and nature. They saw the Almighty 
collecting the particles of light and consolidating 
them in one great body (the sun) to rule the day ; 
they beheld him spreading the canopy of heaven, 
and placing each star in its orbit ; they saw the 
Almighty hand light up the millions of lamps which 
shed a flood of glory over all his works, until the 
heavens declared the glory of God and the firma- 
ment showed his handiwork. Methinks I see the 
myriads of these beautiful and holy beings, with 
half-folded wings, gazing with profound reverence 



128 SERMONS. 

and silent adoration during the progress of the 
mighty process. Silence was becoming, while God 
was speaking worlds into existence ; but when the 
whole was finished, and God had pronounced it 
very good, the angels gave vent to their swelling 
bosoms in joyful shouts of praise. This was the 
signal for all beings to join the universal chorus. 
" The morning stars sang together, and all the sons 
of God shouted for joy." 

They are denominated "holy angels," because 
they are sinless ; their minds are wholly submissive 
to the will of God. 

They excel all other created beings in strength. 
One of them smote, in the camp of the Assyrians, 
one hundred and eighty-five thousand in a single 
night ; an angel destroyed in one night all the first- 
born in the land of Egypt, except those who were 
protected by the blood of the paschal lamb. They 
are the mighty ministers of Providence to execute 
God's judgments on the ungodly. When Christ 
shall be revealed from heaven he will be accompa- 
nied by his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking- 
vengeance upon them that know not God, and obey 
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the 
Parable of the Tares, Christ says, "The reapers are 
the angels." "The Son of man shall send forth 
his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom 
all things that offend, and them that do iniquity, 
and shall cast them into a furnace of fire ; there 
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 

As angels are mighty to inflict God's displeasure 



SERMONS. 129 

on the disobedient, so they are able to aid, protect 
and comfort the heirs of salvation. Their nature 
is benevolent, and we may suppose that they take 
more pleasure in ministering mercy than in inflict- 
ing judgments. An augel directed Hagar to a well 
of water, when her infant son was perishing with 
thirst; angels warned Lot of the destruction of 
Sodom, and hastened him out of the doomed city; 
they appeared to the sleeping Jacob, ascending and 
descending on the ladder, guarding him as an heir 
of salvation from harm ; Nebuchadnezzar spake and 
said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Mescheck 
and Abednego, who hath sent his angel and deliver- 
ed his servants that trusted in him, and changed 
the king's word ! " King Darius cried at the door 
of the lion's den, " Daniel, servant of the living 
God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, 
able to deliver thee from the lions?" Then said 
Daniel, "My God hath sent his angel and shut the 
lions' mouths that they have not hurt me." An an- 
gel encouraged Joshua, the son of Josedech, when 
Satan stood by him to accuse him of his iniquity, 
suggesting to the trembling servant of i3rod that his 
soul was more filthy than his garments. He said 
unto Satan, "The Lord rebuke thee, Satan." Is 
not this a brand plucked out of the fire ? 

"Where is the trembling saint whom Satan does 
not resist ? He is still the accuser of the brethren; 
the arch-enemy takes an unholy delight in filling 
the hearts of Christ's followers with doubts and 
fears, to shake their faith and undermine their hope. 



130 SERMONS. 

Satan desired to sift Simon, but the Saviour's pray- 
ers kept his faith from entirely failing. Satan's 
sieve, like one used in some parts of the world, 
throws all the chaff, straw and foul seed to the top, 
while the wheat is almost if not quite concealed 
beneath the rubbish. Jesus by his intercession 
blows off the chaff, supports the believer's faith, 
and shows him the precious wheat of divine grace. 
He sends an invisible messenger to rebuke the ac- 
cuser. "Is not this a brand plucked out of the 
fire ?" Has not Christ's blood been shed to cleanse 
him from his sin ? Thus Satan's sifting is made 
subservient to the purification of God's child from 
his sin. 

It is doubtless more to the honor of God to resist 
Satan's influence by the agency of a created being 
than by his own immediate irresistible power. God 
sends men, reclaimed from sin by the power of his 
grace, to reason with their fellow men and persuade 
them to cease their opposition to God. This is more 
for his own glory than if he were to speak to men 
from heaven, or send angels to preach to sinners. 
The treasure is committed to earthen vessels, that the 
excellency of power may be of God. 

The ministry of angels to the heirs of salvation is 
conducive to their own good and happiness; they 
delight to do the pleasure of God, and it is his 
pleasure to make his creatures holy and happy. 
Good men know that when they promote the good 
of others their own souls are comforted ; so with 
the angels. When the shepherds near Bethlehem 



SERMONS. 131 

were terrified at the presence of the angel, he quelled 
their fear, by saying, "Fear not : for behold I bring 
you good tidings of great joy, for unto you is born 
this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, who is 
Christ the Lord." We may safely conclude that 
these humble Shepherds, who were honored above 
all others with the first news of Messiah's birth, 
were heirs of salvation. An angel rolled away the 
stone from Jesus' tomb and proclaimed to the women 
the news of a risen Saviour, administering that con- 
solation to their sorrowing hearts which they so 
much needed, saying : " Fear not, for I know that ye 
seek Jesus who was crucified ; he is not here, he is 
risen ; behold the place where the Lord lay." How 
much these benevolent angelic dispositions are like 
Jesus, the Lord of angels, who said: " Fear not, it is 
I." " Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's 
good pleasure to give you the kingdom." 

These holy beings have not lived so many centu- 
ries in the presence of God in vain. They did not 
witness the dying agonies of Jesus, for sinners, with- 
out intense interest for those for whom he died. 

If fallen angels have power to suggest wicked 
thoughts to the minds of sinners, have not the an- 
gels of light power to instil holy thoughts into the 
minds of believers ? But chiefly they are employ- 
ed as ministers of Providence to protect the heirs 
of salvation from the assaults of Satan, counteract- 
ing his influence and warding off his fiery darts. 
From birth until death, whether awake or asleep, 
they water. Qver all the elect. They rejoice in the 



132 SERMONS. " ^ : rr "" s 

conversion of souls; they exercise the most tender 
care as those do who have the charge of kings' chil- 
dren ; they bear them up in their hands lest at any 
time they dash their feet against the stones. As 
angels escorted the King of Glory to his throne 
above, so at his second coming thousands shall min- 
ister to him. Angels stand at the Christian's dying 
bed, waiting to convey the emancipated spirit of 
the heir of salvation to the bright inheritance. The 
shining ones wait on the other shore to bid a wel- 
come to the land of rest. 

See the care of God for his children. God gave 
yon ministers from among men to show you the way 
of salvation. They preach the word and watch for 
your souls as those who must give account. "Whether 
Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, all are yours. God 
gave them to you to serve you — to lead you in the 
way of truth and righteousness. These are minis- 
tering men who point to Christ, the way, the truth, 
and the life. The other class are ministering spirits 
sent forth on special errands, as if the Father of 
Spirits were to say to some shining one standing 
near his throne, waiting for his mandate, Raphael, 
a child is born, endowed with an undying spirit. 
He is morally polluted and therefore under con- 
demnation, but I have chosen him for glory. He 
in whom my soul delighteth hath paid his ransom 
on the cross. He now dwells where Satan's seat is. 
I give thee charge over him to bear him up in thy 
hands. He is at present an heir of wrath, but I 
will make him an heir of salvation. Watch over 



SERMONS. 183 

hini by day and by night, awake and asleep. Shield 
him from the pestilence that walketh in darkness 
and the destruction that wasteth at noonday, until 
I shall regenerate him and make him meet to be a 
partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. 



SERMON VI. 



SATAN'S DEVICES. 

Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the Devil, as a roaring lion, 
Yrdlketh about seeking whom he may devour.— I Peter, 5 : 8. 

The word devil comes from the Greek diabolus, 
which signifies a calumniator, slanderer, or accuser. 
He is a most wicked angel — the implacable enemy 
and tempter of the human race ; especially believers, 
whom he desires to devour. In the Hebrew his 
name is Abaddon, the angel of the bottomless pit. 
The pit is his final home, but now for some wise 
purpose he is suffered to go about to try them that 
dwell on the earth. He is a spirit of vast power 
and of unbounded malignity against God, against 
holiness, and against the people whom God hath 
chosen for his own inheritance. Those whom he 
cannot destroy, being chosen in Christ and sealed 
with the broad seal of the Holy Spirit, he will not 
cease to tempt, torment, and harass until their feet 
shall dip in the river of death. " Simon," said 
Jesus, " Satan hath desired thee to sift thee as 
wheat, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail 
not, and when thou art converted (delivered from 
the sieve,) strengthen thy brethren. Our text is a 
proof of Peter's faithfulness to his Master's com- 



SERMONS. 135 

mand— to strengthen and to guard his brethren 
from their mortal enemy. " Be sober, be vigilant, 
because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, 
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 
"Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the 
same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren 
that are in the world. Beyond the confines of this 
world the power of Satan shall not extend, to mo- 
lest the saints of God. 

"Nor sorrow, nor sickness, nor pain, 
Nor sin, nor temptation, nor fear, 
Shall ever molest them again— 
Perfection of- glory reigns there." 

Take courage, child of God : the period of fierce 
contest is short, and thy victory is sure, for the God 
of peace shall shortly bruise Satan under thy feet. 
In the days of Peter the Devil played the rampant 
lion, to tear or to terrify the followers of Jesus. 
He had the boldness and audacity to attack the 
Master himself; first, under the guise of apparent 
pity for his inward suffering : "If thou be the Son 
of God command that these stones be made bread." 
And when the Saviour foiled him with the sword 
of the Spirit and drove him from the field — though 
foiled, yet not discouraged, he retreated, only to 
form new devices, and reappear in a more terrific 
form. He doffed the lamb and put on the lion, and 
from that time he showed his tremendous teeth and 
hellish claws, and thirsted for the blood of the in- 
nocent victim. When he succeeded, through the 
agency of the Scribes and Pharisees, with the High 
Priest and the elders of the people, he found, to his 



136 SERMONS. 

eternal disappointment, that the Son of man was 
strongest in death. Herein was the ancient threaten- 
ing on Satan inflicted — "the seed of the woman 
shall bruise thy head." 

The blood that the old serpent was so solicitous 
to shed was the downfall of his power, for by it the 
countless damning sins of God's elect are washed 
away, and they are freed from condemnation. Then 
was the prey taken from the mighty and the cap- 
tive delivered. A ransom price was then paid — 
atoning blot)d was shed for the remission of sin. 
He soon found that in crucifying Jesus, he and his 
emissaries had killed the Prince of life, who, on 
the morning of the third day, brought life and im- 
mortality to light, by his resurrection from the 
dead. Though Satan met with such an unlooked- 
for defeat on Calvary, nevertheless he acted out the 
roaring lion towards the disciples, supposing that 
the timid fishermen of Galilee would fly from be- 
fore him and cease to bear their testimony to the 
crucified Nazarene. But Satan soon found that the 
Master had imparted his own unconquerable valor 
to the disciples, and that they were ready, not only 
to be bound, but also to die for his sake, who died 
for them. 

The Devil has, for centuries past, found it neces- 
sary to change his tactics and assume a mild form. 
His former course was becoming unpopular, and he 
must act more in keeping with the progress of civil- 
ization and humanity. The destruction of the soul 
Satan seeks more than the body. He professes now 



SERMONS. 137 

to be very indifferent and harmless, like the croco- 
dile of the Nile, who feigns itself dead so as better 
to secure its prey. But woe to the dog of Egypt 
that rambles near its extended jaws ; the hapless 
creature gives one horrible yell and all its bones are 
crushed . 

Men, sometimes when alive, are reported to be 
dead, and no time is lost in contradicting the false 
statement. But when Satan is reported to be dead, 
as he has been by a sect whose initial is " U," he 
is at no pains to contradict it, because he can turn 
it to his advantage, in furtherance of his dark de- 
signs. No one will conclude that a person is dead 
merely because he does not talk as loud as he did 
in times gone by, while he sees him at work with 
all that vigor that he ever put forth. The prince of 
the power of the air is yet alive, and actively at 
work. "Where ? where, say you ? Where he always 
worked ; — " in the hearts of the children of disobe- 
dience." The unrenewed heart is his workshop, 
and it suits him, for it is dark. There, in the 
heart, lust is conceived, and bringeth forth sin, and 
sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

To illustrate the subject a little further, I will 
open my mouth in a parable. There was a certain 
highwayman, who greatly annoyed travelers on the 
king's highway. Some he robbed, some he sorely 
wounded and left half dead, and many he killed. 
All would have shared the same fate had they not 
been provided with a dart-proof breast-plate, from 
the grand arsenal of Heaven, with which all maybe 



138 



SERMONS. 



supplied upon humble application, for it is written, 
" take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye 
may he able to stand against the wiles of the devil." 
And among the armor of defence stands conspicu- 
ous the breast-plate of righteousness, which, when 
properly worn, is proof againt the fiery darts of 
the wicked. The depredations of the robber be- 
came generally known, and those that were wise 
prepared for the danger. They were completely 
armed, they were sober and vigilant. Their eyes 
penetrated every thicket, they surveyed every bush, 
to avoid sudden surprise; and when the enemy ap- 
peared for battle, they were prepared. The sword 
of the Spirit they wielded with such soldier-like dex- 
terity, that they made the ruffian quail. When the 
people were thus on their guard, the business of 
robbing declined, and the fiend retreated to his den, 
to study out some new means and measures to re- 
trieve his declining fortune. The result of his 
cogitation was that he feigned sickness, and even 
death, which was published far and wide by his 
friend "TJ;" but as the people were slow to be- 
lieve the important news, he secured the services of 
another "IT," who had long been strolling among 
the children of the pilgrims, to confirm the report 
of the former. Thus the people were deluded with 
lies and thrown off their guard. Their armor was 
neglected ; the use of the sword was seldom prac- 
ticed ; it laid on the shelf, covered with dust. All 
this time the enemy was at work, with the same 
unchanging malignity in his heart. The original 



SERMONS. 



139 



dress of Satan, ever since he fell, was of pitchy 
black, dipped in the vat of Gehenna ; of this he can 
never be divested. Yet he possesses the art of 
transforming his sable hue to an almost spotless 
white, in the eyes of mortals. And in this trans- 
formation he struts about as a minister of righteous- 
ness, and as an angel of light. Is it true, Mr. "II" 
that Satan is dead? Be not offended if vre doubt 
your testimony. We know whence it sprung, even 
from the old preacher who once stood among the 
trees of Eden, and whispered in the ear of the 
mother of our race — "Ye shall not surely die." 
We will enquire of living men, whose veracity and 
means of judging are undoubted. They are all the 
honorable judges that preside over all the courts 
of our land. Let us ask them "Is Satan dead?" 
Their answer is one thundering emphatic "!N"o!" 
He is neither dead, sick, nor inactive. Every term 
of our courts the dockets are fall of his work. We 
labor hard to counteract his deeds ; but in spite of 
our diligence he keeps ahead of us. 

Ask the policemen of the city of ~New York ; is 
it true that Satan is defunct ? Each will answer 
you in the negative ; no, no, he was never so dili- 
gent and active. Age does not impair him ; toil 
does not fatigue him, neither do disappointments 
discourage him ; never were his inventive faculties 
more bright than at present, "WTien we detect one 
of his devices, by the next night he has invented 
another still more ingenious, and difficult to detect, 
and has thousands in his employ, of both sexes, who 



140 SERMONS. 

stand ready to do his bidding and execute his dark 
designs. If you are not convinced by the testimony 
of the honorable judges, and the immense bodies 
of policemen who are employed, at vast expense, to 
detect and counteract the workings of Satan, go your- 
selves and be eye. and ear witnesses of his doings. 
In every lane, street and avenue you will find him 
hard at work; in the princely mansions of the 
■rich, in the gorgeous hotels, where the merchants of 
the land resort, in the halls of traffic and exchange 
he is never absent ; neither is he less religious now 
than he was in the days of Job. Then, when the 
sons of God came to present themselves before God, 
Satan came among them. Especially in those places 
where plain, earnest men of God are preaching the 
word, he is posted in some eligible spot, watching 
the countenances of the congregation. Although 
he cannot search the heart, yet, by long observa- 
tion, he has learned that the feelings and emotions 
of the heart are depicted on the countenance. When 
seriousness and anxiety are visible on the face of 
the impenitent, Satan knows that there is some 
power at work in that heart, and that there is a de- 
sire within struggling for vent. Men and brethren, 
what shall I do to be saved ? He marks that man, 
and will go to work, like some voracious bird, to 
scratch the seed out of his heart. 

There are thousands of houses where Satan per- 
forms his most diabolical works, which are not safe 
for any to enter. For the wisdom of God has left 
on record a solemn warning, saying, " Remove thy 



SERMONS. 141 

way far from her, and come not nigh the door of 
her house, lest thou give thine honor unto others, 
and thy years unto the cruel ; for her house is the 
way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." 
There are also thousands of dens of drunkenness 
and infamy, where the prince of darkness presides 
over multitudes of his abject vassals, and hurries 
them in crowds to perdition. A glance into those 
sinks of iniquity is sufficient to convince you that 
the arch-fiend is there, transforming men into his own 
image, and teaching them the language of the pit. 
No pupils make such progress in language as do his. 
Some of them outstrip their Master in sounding 
the deep gutturals of Gehenna. Their throat is 
an open sepulchre ; with their tongues they have 
used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips, 
whose mouths are full of cursing and bitterness ; 
their feet are swift to shed blood ; destruction and 
misery are in their ways, and the way of peace have 
they not known ; there is no fear of God before 
their eyes. All this to the very letter you see and 
hear, therefore you can no longer doubt. 

The Devil employs agents of a different stamp 
from the former, which are designed to operate 
chiefly among professors of religion. I will here 
mention the names of some of them, for their names 
are expressive of the nature of their missions to 
mankind : 

Mr. Latitudinarian, Mr. Do-as-well and Mr. Non- 
essential. We will examine the doctrine preach- 
ed by Mr. Latitudinarian. He is an advocate for 



142 SERMONS. 

great breadth in religious principles and practice, 
everything that is straight or narrow he calls bigo- 
try; he makes his boast that he is none of your 
narrow-minded, contracted professors, and to be 
consistent with himself he never urges his hearers 
to enter in at the strait gate nor walk in the nar- 
row way, nor insists on their being born again ; the 
wide gate and the broad way are more congenial 
to the noble principles of his nature. O, with what 
lofty eloquence he stands to advocate his doctrine of 
what he calls Christian union and free communion, 
for he glories in being free from settled and sacred 
rules, even the rules laid down by Christ himself. 

Now we will attend for a few minutes to Mr. Do- 
as-well : He is an old preacher — as old as Cain and 
Abel. On a certain day, the two brothers concluded 
to present their gifts before the Lord, and as they 
were consulting together what gifts they would 
present, Mr. Do-as-well intruded himself into their 
council. He said, "Well, Abel, what are you going 
to present to the Lord to-day." Abel said, " Sir, I 
feel myself to be a great sinner, and I need an aton- 
ing sacrifice, and my father told me the other day 
that G-od gave him a pretty clear intimation that 
without shedding of blood there is no remission of 
sin. And God further told my father, that in the 
fullness of time he would send his own Son to be a 
lamb slain for our sin, and so I am going to present 
this lamb, as an emblem of that which is to come." 

Mr. Do-as-well said, "Abel, you have been at 
great trouble and expense, but I admit it is a beau- 



SERMONS. 143 

tiful lamb, the most perfect and fattest in all your 
flock. There is one there that seems a little lame, 
and, I think, almost blind ; the Lord is not so very 
particular. That poor one will do as well." 

The spirit of Abel was grieved at this harangue 
of Mr. Do-as-well, and he said, with great feeling, 
" Sir, the Lord has been so good to me, who am 
such a great sinner, that I would freely give him 
all the flocks that I have for one smile of his coun- 
tenance, or one gracious whisper in my heart, that 
my sins are forgiven." Abel turned away to erect 
an altar and prepare the lamb for the burnt offer- 
ing. This being done, he stood at the altar, look- 
ing at his bleeding typical substitute, and while he 
was looking, he felt his heart breaking to pieces, 
and his eyes overflowed, while he cried from the 
bottom of his heart, " God be propitious unto me, 
a sinner," Divine approbation shone around him 
and all was peace within. 

JSTow, Mr. Do-as-well approached Cain, with pro- 
found respect, and said, "With diffidence I approach 
you, Cain, as the first-born of your race and heir 
apparent of the crown and throne of your father. 
Yet, permit me, sir, to ask, "What gift are you 
going to present before the Lord to-day?" 

Cain replied, "My mind has been somewhat 
wavering on the subject. My brother, Abel, re- 
solved that nothing will answer his purpose but a 
bleeding sacrifice, and I saw him four days ago 
leading a lamb home. I wondered what was the 
matter with the lad, for when he looked on the lamb, 



144 SERMONS. 

great tears rolled down his cheeks and he appeared 
sad." Ah ! said Mr. Do-as-well, " Cain, you are 
a very different man from Abel, who is a poor, 
melancholy young man, always complaining about 
his sins. You are a man of nerve and .strong rea- 
son ; you are not troubled with remorse of consci- 
ence as Abel is ; a peace-offering will do as well for 
you — God is not particular as to the quality of the 
gift ; a sheaf of wheat or barley will do as well." 
Cain yielded willingly to the apparent plausibility 
of Mr. Do-as-well, and he and his gift failed of the 
approbation of God. When Satan comes about in 
the person of Mr. Do-as-well the danger is no 
less than when he goeth about as a roaring lion. 
Then be sober, be vigilant. 

Time would fail me to tell how Mr. Do-as-well 
persuaded David and thirty thousand men of Israel 
to move the ark of God on a new cart instead of 
on the shoulders of the Levites. And how, in the 
present day, he persuades hundreds of thousands of 
christian men, that sprinkling a few drops of water 
on the face of a child or an adult, will do as well as 
the solemn, sacred, and significant ordinance of 
Christ, enjoined by the eternal Son of God as he 
was ascending to his Father and our Father, to his 
God and to our God. Be astonished, ye heavens, 
at this ! Tell me, ye who yield to the fiend, Do- 
as-well, When or where did the God of Truth 
ever sanction your perversion of his holy ordi- 
nance? While the power of the Holy Spirit is 
present to bless when baptism is administered ac- 



SERMONS. 145 

cording to the Divine command, to the command- 
ments of men God has no respect. Therefore, 
be sober, brethren, be vigilant, for your adversary, 
the Devil, goeth about, — if not now as a roaring 
lion, — yet, peradventure, in the garb of a minister 
of righteousness, or an angel of light, to tempt and 
to harass you ; and when he finds that the sovereign 
grace of G-od hath sealed you unto eternal life, and 
that he may not devour you, this will the more 
arouse the malignity of his nature to torment and 
trouble those whom he cannot destroy. 

He will leave no stone unturned, to cause Christ- 
ians to stumble ; he will deceive, if it were pos- 
sible, the very elect. Brethren, take unto you 
the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to 
stand against the wiles of the Devil. 

Take courage, brethren, fight on, the shout of the 
King is in the camp. His eye is upon you, and he 
will distinguish the brave with crowns of righteous- 
ness which shall never fade away. Yea ! I say 
again, brethren, fight on ; sisters, fight on ; be true 
Amazons in the war of the Lord. Rival the valor 
of your mother, Deborah, who, in the name of the 
Lord, trod down strength in the high places of the 
field. The campaign will be but short; your fathers 
and mothers that formed the vanguard of the army 
have already crossed the river, and now shout vic- 
tory to the lamb beyond the stream of death, and 
the God of peace shall shortly bruise Satan under 
your feet 



SERMON VII. 

PREACHED BEFORE THE NEW JERSEY BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION, AT PLAIN- 
FIELD, NOV. 2, 1836, AND PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OP THE CONVENTION. 



THE CHURCH: ITS INCREASE AOT) PROS- 
PERITY. 

" Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end."— 
Isaiah ix. 7. 

Isaiah, was peculiarly favored with the spirit of 
prophecy, which brought before bis mental vision 
the birth, the life, and the sufferings of Christ, with 
the glory that should follow in the establishment 
and increase of his spiritual empire. He saw the 
miraculous events of the work of redemption pass 
before him in solemn review; and such was his 
confidence in the divine faithfulness that he fre- 
quently spoke of them as of things already accom- 
plished. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a 
son is given." "He was wounded for our trans- 
gressions, he was bruised for our iniquities ; the 
chastisement of our peace was upon him ; and with 
his stripes we are healed.'' 

A great variety of appellations are given to the 
church in the word of God. She is called a flock, 
that from this the care and love of the good Shep- 



SERMONS. 147 

herd might be illustrated, who gave his life for his 
sheep — a vineyard, to set forth the fraitfulness of 
true believers, in consequence of their union with 
Christ, and the culture of the Divine Husbandman. 
In our text the church is called a government, or 
kingdom, of which the kingdom of David and Solo- 
mon was an emblem ; and the name may denote her 
stability, her wide extent of territory, her numer- 
ous converts, and her spiritual riches, derived from 
Jesus Christ. 

Our business, my brethren, in coming together, 
is to promote the increase of the church, which 
Christ purchased with his own blood ; and I thought 
the passage under consideration calculated to encou- 
rage, our hearts in this holy work. " Of the increase 
of his government and peace there shall be no end." 

When christians are exercised with proper feel- 
ings, the glory of Cod, as displayed in the conver- 
sion of sinners, and the increase of his government, 
is the most ardent desire of their hearts ; and among 
their first errands at the throne of grace, is to seek 
the prosperity of Zion. This is in accordance with 
the teachings of our blessed Eedeemer, who said — 
" When ye pray, say, our Father which art in heaven, 
hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come." And 
in another place he said — "Seek ye first the king- 
dom of Cod and his righteousness, and all other 
things shall be added unto you." 

That we may labor with judgment and under- 
standing, with renewed zeal and holy courage, to 
promote the interest of the Zion of Cod, let us 



148 SEKMONS. 

look to him for his blessing upon the subject before 
us, while I shall endeavor to present it before your 
minds in the following method : 

I. Inquire at what period the church of God was 
organized. 

II. "What manner of persons the church is com- 
posed of. 

III. What measures and means we are to use to 
promote the increase of the church. 

IV. What encouragement God has given us to 
labor for the advancement of his kingdom. 

I. Inquire at what period the church of God was 
organized. 

I presume it will not be considered out of place 
to say a little in explanation of the term church. 
The Greek word ecclesia, which in our English ver- 
sion is translated church, signifies an assembly of 
people called out. It does not express for what pur- 
pose they are assembled ; that is to be understood 
from the connection of the place — whether they 
were called of God, for the holy purpose of show- 
ing forth his praise — or, by human authority, to 
perform some civil acts, as courts of justice or legis- 
lative bodies — or, by some daring spirit, who calls 
forth the rabble for the purpose of rapine and vio- 
lence. 

The word ecclesia is applied to all these in the New 
Testament. When Paul preached the Gospel at 
Ephesus, one Demetrius called out a mob of idol- 
makers to defend their system of idolatry, which 



SERMONS. 149 

Paul, by a powerful display of divine truth, was 
fast undermining. That unlawful and tumultuous 
assemblage of people is twice called ecclesia. See 
Acts xix. 32 and 41 — "For the assembly (ecclesia) 
was confused." "And he (the town clerk) dismissed 
the assembly," (ecelesian.) That prudent officer, in 
his endeavors to dissuade the multitude from acts of 
violence, proposed that they should bring their mat- 
ters before an assembly of judges, called out by the 
civil authority, to act according to law. "But if ye 
inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall 
be determined in a lawful assembly," (ennomo eccle- 
sia.) Thus we see that the term is applied to lawful 
and unlawful assemblies, and the only way to un- 
derstand the character of the assembly spoken of, 
is to examine the connection. When we read of 
the church of God, we will invariably find some- 
thing in the connection that distinguishes that body 
of people from all others ; either some peculiar trait 
in their character, or some special mercy which God 
on them has conferred. 

I shall give a few instances : See Eph. v. 24 — "As 
the church is subject unto Christ." Subjection to 
the law of Christ is a characteristic of the true 
church. She is distinguished by her knowledge of 
the wise and mysterious plan of salvation by Christ. 
Ephesians iii. 10 — " Known by the church, the mani- 
fold wisdom of God." She is said to be chosen of 
God. I. Peter v. 13 — " The church which is at 
Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you." 
Purchased by blood divine. Acts xx. 28 — " Feed 



150 SEBMONS. 

the church, of God, which he hath purchased with his 
oivn blood." And again — " Christ loved the church, 
and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and 
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." 

Stephen, in his dying testimony to the Jews, calls 
the congregation of Israel ecclesia, which our trans- 
lators have rendered by the term church. But notice 
the connection, and there you will find none of those 
marks that distinguish the true church of God. He 
speaks of their opposition to God, and to his servant 
Moses. Of Moses he said, Acts vii. 38, 39, 40, 41 
— " This is he that was in the church in the wilder- 
ness." And then he goes on to describe the char- 
acters of the people who composed that assembly : 
— " To whom our fathers would not obey ; but thrust 
him from them, and in their hearts turned back 
again to Egypt, saying unto Aaron, make us gods 
to go before us ; for as for this Moses, which brought 
us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is 
become of him. And they made a calf in those 
days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and re- 
joiced in the works of their own hands." 

I freely admit that many things in the history of 
literal Israel, were typical of spiritual Israel; but 
surely not in their rebellion against God ; not in 
their turning back in their hearts to Egypt ; not in 
their rage for idol worship, were they designed to 
prefigure those that are Israelites indeed. The de- 
liverance of that people from the bondage of Pha- 
raoh, and their journey through the deserts, do 
strikingly represent the conduct of God towards 



SERMONS. 151 

those whom he saves from sin, and guides by his 
spirit through this waste howling wilderness into 
the land of endless rest. 

If the phrase Jewish church be used at all it ought 
to be well qualified, lest we lead the mind of the 
people astray from the simplicity of Gospel truth 
into the confused labyrinth of Popish error. The 
confounding of the Jewish nation with the church 
of Christ is the base on which stands infant sprink- 
ling, the pillar that supports popery. May God en- 
able us to undermine the base, then the pillar must 
come down, and the Mother of Harlots will have no 
footing. The angel will cry mightily with a strong 
voice, saying, " Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen." 
Paul, speaking of the rock in the wilderness, saith, 
" and that rock was Christ." Israel was the church, 
in the same sense that the rock was Christ, not 
literally, but typically. 

In every age, from righteous Abel to the coming 
of the Son of man, God had a people on the earth, 
" a seed to serve him, a remnant according to the 
election of grace." But it does not appear that he 
had an organized church of spiritual and holy peo- 
ple, separated from the world, until after the coming 
of Christ. The honor of its constitution was re- 
served for. the Son of God. John, his forerunner, 
describes him as coming to make a separation be- 
tween the godly and the ungodly, and to set up a 
spiritual kingdom distinct and separated from the 
world. " Whose fan (said he) is in his hand, and he 
will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat 



152 SERMONS. 

into his gamer ; but he will burn up the chaff with 
unquenchable lire." By his wheat, we are to under- 
stand believers, who previous to his coming were 
intermixed with the Jews and Gentiles, like wheat 
among the chaff. But Jesus came to call them out 
of the world into his garner (the church,) to be a 
separate people, " to show forth the glory of him 
who called them out of darkness into his marvel- 
lous light." 

This the great Redeemer does by his word, which 
the holy man compares to a fan; and the Spirit, like 
some heavenly wind, blows upon them, and purges 
them from the love and dominion of sin, and sepa- 
rates them from the world. " Come out from among 
them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean 
thing, and I will receive you, saith the Lord." God 
saw fit to separate the family of Abraham from all 
the families of the earth ; but the Most High had 
other designs than prefiguring his spiritual king- 
dom, in drawing that line of distinction. One great 
end God had in view, was to prepare the way for 
the coming of Christ into the world, who was to 
descend from Abraham according to the flesh. As 
it was said, "In thy seed shall all the families of the 
earth be blessed." And Paul remarks on this pro- 
mise, "He saith not, and to seeds as of many but as 
of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ." The line 
of separation was strictly kept up, and all the fami- 
lies of Israel were registered in a book, until Jesus, 
the promised seed, came into the world. This cir- 
cumstance furnished an indubitable proof that Jesus 



SERMONS. 153 

of Nazareth was the seed promised to Abraham — ■ 
the Star from Jacob — the Shiloh from Judah — the 
Eod from the stem of Jesse — and the Root and Off- 
spring of David. 

Another design of Jehovah was, to make that 
people an organ of communication between himself 
and the nations of the earth. From time to time 
he inspired men of that nation to speak and write 
his holy word, and to them he committed the sacred 
Scriptures for safe-keeping. Some, in the days of 
Paul, could not discern why the Jews were kept so 
long a separate people; and they inquired, what 
was the profit arising from circumcision, the princi- 
pal mark of distinction that kept them apart from 
others. " What advantage, then, hath the Jew, and 
what profit is there of circumcision?" Paul an- 
swers, "Much everyway, chiefly, because that unto 
them were committed the oracles of God." 

Thus they were truly a privileged people, as the 
Apostle abundantly proves. " "Who are Israelites, 
to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, 
and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and 
the service of God, and the promises ; whose are 
the Fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, 
Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever." 
Still, with all these external privileges, an over- 
whelming majority of them were stiff-necked and 
rebellious. " Children in whom was no faith ; des- 
titute of the marks that characterize the subjects of 
that kingdom which owns Christ for its king." 

The reformers defined the church to be "a con- 



154 SERMONS. 

gregation of faithful men, in which the true word 
of God is preached, and the ordinances duly admin- 
istered, according to the commandments of Jesus 
Christ." And we have an infallible definition, 
given by Christ himself, while he stood at the bar 
of Pilate — "My kingdom is not of this world." 
This should be our polar star, from which our eyes 
should never wander. 

Relative to the kingdom of Christ, and the time 
it was setup, or organized, God gave to king Nebu- 
chadnezzar a remarkable dream, which Daniel in- 
terpreted, and time and events have fully confirm- 
ed. The king saw an image, composed of four dif- 
ferent metals, which represented four different king- 
doms, that were to succeed each other. The head 
was of gold, which denoted the kingdom of the 
Chaldeans, of which Nebuchadnezzar was king. 
The breast and arms were of silver ; the silver arms, 
uniting in the breast, represented the kingdoms of 
the Medes and Persians being united in the person 
of Cyrus, whose father was a Persian, and his mo- 
ther a Mede, and who, by the valor of his arms, 
succeeded by the providence of God, took Babylon, 
and subdued the whole realm of the Chaldeans. 
Its belly and thighs, of brass, denoted the Grecians 
clad in brazen armor, who, under Alexander, van- 
quished the Persians, and established the empire of 
the Greeks. The legs were of iron, and the feet 
part of iron and part of clay. The iron represented 
the empire of the Romans, who, as with the strength 
of iron, tore in pieces and trampled under their feet 



SERMONS. 155 

the kingdom of the Macedonians ; and when the 
iron empire began to decline, it was divided into 
ten kingdoms, answering to the ten toes of the im- 
age, part of iron and part of clay ; so the kingdoms 
had in them the strength of iron, combined with 
the weakness of brittle clay. 

As the king was gazing on the majestic image, 
he saw a stone cut out of the mountains without 
hands, which smote the image, and the iron, the 
clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, became like 
the chaff of the summer threshing-floors ; and the 
stone which smote the image became a great moun- 
tain, and filled the whole earth. By the image, is 
set forth the kingdoms of this world — and the stone 
was no part of the image, but entirely distinct, 
which denotes Christ and his kingdom. " Behold 
(saith God) I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a 
tried stone, a sure corner-stone, and he that believ- 
eth in him shall not be confounded." Daniel said 
further — "In the days of these kings shall the God 
of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be 
destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other 
people." By this kingdom we are to understand 
the church of God, which was not set up in the days 
of Daniel ; for he speaks of it as a future act of the 
God of heaven. For the stone was not cut out with- 
out hands until the iron legs of the image had ac- 
tually come into existence y and the empire of the 
Romans was in the zenith of its glory when the Son 
of the Highest was born of a virgin. 

John the Baptist, whose ministry was the dawn 



156 SERMONS. 

of the Gospel day, as the morning star, introduced 
the Sun of Righteousness to bless the earth with 
beams of grace. Mark i. 1, 2 — " The beginning of 
the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God, as it is 
written in the prophets. Behold I send my mes- 
senger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way 
before thee." Thus wrote an inspired evangelist. 
And who has the hardihood to contradict the spirit 
of God, and say that John was under some other 
dispensation? "The law and the prophets were 
until John ; but from that time the kingdom of God 
is preached." He, like Paul, preached the Gospel 
doctrine of repentance towards God and faith in the 
Lord Jesus Christ, and thus prepared the way of 
the Lord by directing the minds of the people to 
the promised Messiah. John is said to have come 
to make ready a people for the Lord, and those who 
were converted through his ministry, and baptized 
by him in the river Jordan, were thus prepared to 
be the first constituents of his church. 

The apostles thought it necessary to select a bro- 
ther to fill up the vacancy made in their number by 
the apostacy of Judas, and they stated the requisite 
qualifications for the office. Acts i. 21, 22 — " Where- 
fore of these men which have companied with us 
all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out 
among us, beginning from the baptism of John, 
unto that same day that he was taken up from us, 
must one be ordained to be a witness, with us, of 
his resurrection." 

Mark ! he must not be a novice, but must have 



SERMONS. 157 

commenced his christian course at the dawn of the 
Gospel day. He must be acquainted with the be- 
ginning of the Gospel dispensation under John, and 
have justified God, by being baptized of him. He 
must be one who followeth Jesus faithfully, listen- 
ed to his instructions, saw his works, his sufferings, 
and his death, also witnessed his resurrection and 
ascension to heaven. All this is expressed or im- 
plied in the above passage, and it is not reasonable 
to suppose that the apostles required any qualifica- 
tion in the new candidate which they themselves 
did not possess. Therefore the inference is plain, 
that the apostles were first the disciples of John, 
and were by him baptized, but not organized into a 
church state ; for that honor was reserved for Jesus 
Christ, who is the head of the church, and the Sa- 
viour of the body ; whose fan was in his hand to 
purge his floor, and gather his wheat into his garner. 

Jesus, after he was baptized, began to preach, 
saying — repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at 
hand, that is, ready to be set up. Then he called 
Simon and Andrew, James and John, with others. 
to preach the word, and to be the nucleus of that 
kingdom which is not of this world. From this 
time Jesus speaks of his disciples as being not ot 
this world — "I have chosen you out of the world," 
&c. 

The church is called a bride, and John, in accord- 
ance with this simile, said of Christ and his little 
company — " He that hath the bride is the bride- 
groom, but the friend of the bridegroom that stand- 
7 



158 SERMONS. 

eth by and heareth his voice, rejoiceth greatly; this 
my joy therefore is fulfilled." John had been pre- 
paring the bride for the appearance of her heavenly 
husband, and when he came the Baptist did not for 
a moment try to detain her ; but commended the 
blessed Jesus to her notice and affections, saying — 
"Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the 
sin of the world." " He must increase, but I must 
decrease ; he that is from above is above all." 

Jesus having called his little flock, " went into a 
mountain, and when he was set his disciples came 
unto him, and he opened his mouth and taught 
them. Like a shepherd, he led them to feed in 
green pastures ; as their prophet, he taught them ; 
and as their king, he published his law to his newly 
erected kingdom. From this period we see Christ 
acting as pastor of his church, feeding them with 
his precious truth, correcting their faults, and cheer- 
ing up their spirits against the hour of adversity. 
" Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleas- 
ure to give you the kingdom." Peculiarly applica- 
ble to Jesus, the- Prince of Pastors, are the words of 
Isaiah, — "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; 
he shall gather his lambs with his arm, and carry 
them in his bosom, and he shall gently lead those 
that are with young." 

The Saviour directed his disciples how to act 
towards an offending brother. After the first and 
second admonition had failed in bringing him to 
repentance, "Tell it," said he, "to the church." 
Did Jesus send his disciples to the Jewish syna- 



SERMONS. 159 

gogue for the settlement of their difficulties ? ~No ; 
for in no instance did he recognise the Jews as a 
church. That kind Shepherd would not send his 
lambs to a den of wolves ; for the Jews had already 
agreed, that if any one should confess that he was 
Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. — 
There is a design, yes, my brethren, a deep design, 
in the arguments of those who are endeavoring to 
persuade the people that the christian church is only 
a continuation of the Jewish congregation, and that 
they are identically the same. Their design is to 
furnish some plausible pretext for their practice, in 
admitting the children of the flesh, who are void of 
faith and every gospel prerequisite, into the church, 
and thus, by a supposed analogy, are laboring to 
unite the world and the church together, in direct 
opposition to him that said, " My kingdom is not of 
this world." 

The same people assert that the church was re- 
modeled, and became christian, on or after the day 
of pentecost. In this, again, they are evidently 
wrong, for those that were converted and baptized 
on that day were added unto the church ; which 
shows that there was a church in being before that 
day. According to their own definition of the 
term, there was " a congregation of faithful men, 
to whom the true word of G-od was preached (by 
Jesus Christ himself), and the ordinances duly ad. 
ministered ; the first by John, a man sent of God, 
and then by the disciples, who also baptized in the 
river Jordan, where John had formerly baptized 



160 



SERMONS. 



Jesus himself being present to direct and sanction 
the deed. The Lord's supper was reserved to a 
time that would render it most impressive, and then 
administered by the Saviour's own hands. Thus 
we see that the assembly of Jesus possessed every 
privilege and every attribute of a church long be- 
fore the memorable day of pentecost. 

But why do they want to put off its organization 
to that late period? The design is to exclude John 
from the Gospel dispensation and invalidate his 
baptism ; and, as a consequence, to render the bap- 
tism of Christ and his apostles void, and set them 
all under a dispensation which never existed. Thus 
do men still continue to make void the command- 
ments of God, that they may keep their own tradi- 
tions. Let us proceed to inquire — 

II. Of what manner of persons is the church 
composed ? 

Permit me again, my brethren, to refer you to the 
memorable declaration of Jesus Christ — " My king- 
dom is not of this world." As his kingdom is 
spiritual, so also must all his subjects be. "The car- 
nal mind is enmity against God, is not subject to 
the law of God, neither indeed can it be." "For 
the natural man understandeth not the things of the 
spirit of God, neither can he know them, for they 
are spiritually discerned." For what fellowship 
hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? and what 
communion hath light with darkness ? and what 
concord hath Christ with Belial ? " " And how 



SERMONS. 161 

can two walk together except they be agreed ? " Xo 
external privilege can entitle you to membership 
in the church of God. Are you, my friend, placed 
by kind Providence in a neighborhood where the 
pure "Word of God is faithfully dispensed? and are 
you a constant attendant on the word so preached ? 
truly your advantage is great ; but if you remain 
impenitent and in unbelief your condition is truly 
awful. Your responsibility has been swelling as 
your advantages have been multiplying, and if you 
die in your sin you will surely meet a fearful reck- 
oning. Where much is given much will be required. 

Has God blessed you with godly parents, who are 
consistent members of the kingdom of Christ, and 
who have prayed with you and for you, and have 
taken pains to lead you in the way that you should 
go ? Great as your privilege is in this particular, 
it does not give you the least title to any of the 
blessings of the covenant of grace. If you are 
without personal faith in Christ and holiness of 
heart, you are a stranger from the covenants of pro- 
mise and an alien from the commonwealth of Israel ; 
without God and without hope in the world, a child 
of wrath, and not a child of God. 

John the Baptist faithfully warned his hearers 
against trusting in the faith and piety of parents. 
"Say riot in your hearts, we have Abraham to our 
father : for I say unto you, that God is able of these 
stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And 
now, also, the axe is laid unto the root of the trees : 
therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good 



162 SERMONS. 

fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." The rich 
man, whose soul cried from the abyss of hell for a 
drop of water to cool his tongue, was a descendant 
of Abraham, and the glorified patriarch recognized 
him as such, but this availed him nothing. The gulf 
was fixed, Oh ! for ever fixed. They, and they only, 
that are of faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham. 
Dangerous in the extreme is that doctrine which 
asserts that unconscious babes have a right to mem- 
bership in the church of God, and attaches holiness 
to that which is born of the fiesh. Have they not 
yet heard that that which is born of the fiesh is flesh ? 
And then, to cap the climax, they put into the 
mouths of the poor deceived children, in answer to 
the question, " Who gave you that name?" the fol- 
lowing: " My godfathers and godmothers, when I was 
baptized and made a child of God, and a member of 
Christ, and an inheritor of the kingdom of God." A 
more deadly dose of opiate never was administered 
to lull the conscience in careless security, and to 
usher immortal souls into the presence of their final 
Judge with a lie in their right hand. I speak, my 
brethren, in part from my own experience. I have 
swallowed the dose, and for years have felt its dead- 
ening influence on my soul. 

But Oh ! to grace how great a debtor, 
Daily I'm constrained to be. 

My heart bleeds for youth that are similarly situ- 
ated. Oh ! spirit of our God, rend the veil from 
their hearts, and undeceive them ; show them that 



SERMONS. 163 

except they be born again they cannot see the king- 
dom of God. 

The Jews expected that when the Messiah should 
come he would set up a temporal kingdom, and that 
they would be the privileged subjects of that splen- 
did empire. Full of this notion, Nicodemus came 
to Jesus by night, to make some inquiry on the sub- 
ject. Jesus knew what was in his heart, and he di- 
rected his discourse to him, more in reference to 
that, than to what had come from his lips : " Verily, 
verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, 
he cannot see the kingdom of God." This solemn 
declaration upset the carnal and worldly notions of 
the honorable senator, and being confused and as- 
tonished he cried, " How can a man be born when 
he is old?" Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say 
unto thee, except a man be born of water and of 
the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that 
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not 
that I say unto thee, ye must be born again." A 
person who is not renewed in the spirit of his mind 
cannot see the glory of Christ nor the spiritual 
beauty of his kingdom. Let him be Jew or Gen- 
tile, black or white, bond or free, he must be born 
again, or be forever debarred from the kingdom of 
God. 

The visible church of God on earth is composed 
of persons who have received the truth in the love 
thereof, and have professed their faith in Christ, 
and on that profession have been baptized in water 



164 SERMONS. 

by duly authorized ministers of Jesus Christ, in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
Holy Ghost. 

Faith and repentance, which imply a change of 
heart, are absolutely necessary to entitle a person to 
the privilege of being buried with Christ in bap- 
tism. "If thou believest with all thine heart thou 
mayest" (be baptized.) " Repent, and be baptized" 
" He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." 
And as faith is a prerequisite to baptism, so is bap- 
tism a prerequisite to an entrance into the church 
and a participation of the Lord's supper. "And 
they that gladly received the word were baptized, 
and the same day there were added unto them about 
three thousand souls. And they continued in the 
Apostle's doctrine, and in breaking of bread, and 
in prayer." That converts may so multiply in our 
days, let us inquire — 

IH. "What measures and means we are to use to 
promote the increase of the church. The means to 
be used are those which are strictly of divine ap- 
pointment. We cannot expect that God will honor 
with his presence, and the special influence of his 
spirit, any thing that is of human invention. When 
men invent any means or measures in religious mat- 
ters, of course they deem the means which God has 
instituted inadequate to the accomplishment of the 
end he intended ; and they are thus casting reflec- 
tion on divine wisdom which contrived the plan, 
and furnished the means for the salvation of his 
people. 



SERMONS. 165 

The means to be used for the increase and peace 
of the church are, I conceive, the faithful exhibition 
of the word and ordinances of the Lord. 

This is to be done in different ways. By urging 
'persons to read the Holy Scriptures. As Christ di- 
rected, " Search the Scriptures, for they are they 
that testify of me." This command cannot be ob- 
served by those that are without the Bible, there- 
fore it is right, if we ourselves have derived any 
benefit from reading the word, that we, according 
to our ability, furnish the destitute with the precious 
book. This is to do to others as we would that 
others should do unto us, if we were destitute. 
"This is the law and the prophets." 

The ic oral is to be read by parents to their children and 
others under their care. Deut. vi. 6, 7 — "And these 
words which I command thee this day shall be in 
thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently 
unto thy children, and shalt talk of them wdien thou 
sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the 
way, and when thou liest down, and when thou 
risest up." The Apostle commends Lois and Eunice 
for their diligent care in the education of young 
Timothy in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. 

If it be commendable to teach our own children, 
it cannot be wrong to impart good instructions to 
other people's children. " Do good unto all men," 
is a divine command. And if it be a good deed to 
teach a few, it cannot be wrong to teach many; and 
Jesus said, " that it is lawful to do good on the Sab- 
bath day." 



166 SERMONS. 

But the general and the most successful method 
of exhibiting divine truth, is by the public preach- 
ing of the Gospel. Is it asked, where is the Gos- 
pel to be preached? The only legitimate answer to 
the question is — every where. For so has Christ 
commanded, " Go ye therefore and teach all na- 
tions." "Preach the Gospel to every creature." 

This command was given to men, and we all 
know that men need bread to eat and raiment to 
wear. And we know that those who are ignorant 
of God cannot appreciate the service of his minis- 
ters, so as to sustain them in their work. The 
apostles labored among, but took nothing from 
the Heathen. The word of God instructs us what 
measure to adopt in such cases. It is the privilege 
of the church and her numerous well-wishers to 
supply such deficiency. And if one church be not 
able to do it, several may unite, as they did of old 
to sustain Paul while he was preaching Christ 
in the city of Corinth. 2 Cor. xi. 8, 9 — "I robbed 
other churches, taking wages of them to do you ser- 
vice. And when I was with you, and wanted, I 
was chargeable to no man (among you;) for that 
which was lacking to me the brethren which came 
from Macedonia supplied." This was not said in 
honor of the Corinthians, but it reflected a high 
commendation on the churches, which by an united 
effort contributed of their substance to feed and 
clothe the servant of Christ while he was preaching 
the Gospel to the profligate citizens of Corinth. 
This, alone, brethren, is a sufficient warrant from 



SERMONS. 167 

the word of God to justify the measures you pursue 
to supply the weak churches and the destitute por- 
tions of our State and country; in this you tread 
in the steps of the primitive churches and of the 
oldest Baptists. 

As the Gospel is to be preached to all, rich and 
poor, young and old, bond and free, and all by na- 
ture are ignorant of divine things, therefore — 

The manner of preaching- should be plain. — 
"We use," said Paul, "great plainness of speech." 
And we are sure from our own observation, that 
God distinguishes with most success the plainest 
preaching, while he suffers the labors of the flowery 
orator to be blasted by his own breath. 

Were we to see a company of blind persons walk- 
ing on the verge of some dreadful precipice, we 
would not wait to consult the rules of rhetoric in 
order to address them genteelly on the subject of 
their danger, but we would cry, Stop men, stop ; Oh ! 
stop, or you will fall into that yawning gulf before 
you. A more distressing sight presents itself when- 
ever we stand to preach for God to the children of 
men. Scores of immortal beings are before us, 
blind to their own danger, sporting with death on 
the verge of the burning pit, and they perceive it 
not. God help us to be plain in warning the wick- 
ed to flee from the wrath to come. 

'• Stop poor sinners, stop and think 
Before you farther go, 
Why will yon sport upon the brink 
Of everlasting woe ? "' 



168 SERMONS. 

The manner should be solemn. — "When we con- 
sider the immense importance of the work in which 
we are engaged, it ought to fill our minds with deep, 
habitual, and unaffected solemnity. 

We stand to advocate the cause in which the Re- 
deemer of men agonized, bled and died. We stand, 
my brethren, as the representatives of the Son of 
God, to entreat sinners, in his stead, to be recon- 
ciled to God. In our hands and on our lips is the 
message of God to men, and to some it will be the 
message of life; but to those that reject it, the mes- 
sage of death unto death. 

Oh! in such a work as this can we be otherwise 
than solemn? Rather let the bearers of the dead, 
while they lower the corpse into the yawning tomb, 
be void of seriousness — rather let the judge on the 
bench, while a case of life and death is pending be- 
fore him, lose his dignified gravity, than that the 
professed minister of Christ should trifle with un- 
dying souls. 

Let us consider the company we are in while in a 
place of worship. God, our final judge, is here — 
and he is the searcher of our hearts. Jesus, that 
wept and died for sinners, is here — for he hath pro- 
mised to be. Angels are here — witnessing our 
frames and the temper of our devotions. Saints 
are here — waiting with longing hearts for the bread 
of life. Sinners also are here — and probably some 
of them for the last time before they appear before 
the bar of God. Oh! my brethren, can our spirits, 
can our words, be otherwise than solemn in such a 
company as this ? 



SERMONS. 169 

There is reason to fear that the sir. of levity, in 
ns ministers, and in professing christians generally, 
is exerting a most pernicious influence on every de- 
partment of human society. It is as contagious as 
the plague of Egypt. It hardens the heart of the 
impenitent when they witness it, and it renders the 
effort of the christian to do the sinner good as power- 
less as that of Sampson, when shorn of his locks. 
As the subject of religion is generally by the world 
treated with coolness, therefore to counteract the 
evil by those that preach the word — 

Their manner should be fervent. — The preach- 
ing which the Lord delights to bless is that which 
is plain, solemn, and fervent. There was much fire 
used in the service of God under the former dis- 
pensation ; yet none was allowed except that which 
came from heaven, and was termed holy. 

The Holy Ghost came on the disciples on the day 
of pentecost, like a rushing mighty wind, and filled 
all the house where they were sitting, and there ap- 
peared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, 
and it sat upon each of them. Before this they 
preached the Gospel with comparatively small suc- 
cess ; but from this period their tongues were en- 
dowed with more, far more, than human eloquence. 
Their words were like burning arrows, darting into 
the hearts and consciences of sinners around them, 
and causing such pain and alarm as forced them to 
cry, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?' 5 

And shall the same words which burned and blaz- 
ed on their lips, freeze and die on ours ? Is Christ 



170 SERMONS. 

less to be loved ? Is his atonement less efficacious ? 
Has sin lost its malignity ? Have the souls of men 
lowered in their value ? Is eternal life less to be de- 
sired, or eternal death and the wrath of God less to 
be dreaded? If not, then let the Gospel still be 
preached with plainness, solemnity and holy fer- 
vor, and let the word of the Lord be given to the 
nations pure, without alteration or concealment, 
and the ordinances of the Lord Jesus be administer- 
ed as at the beginning ; and the whole be done with 
humble and prayerful dependence upon the God of 
all grace for his saving blessing. "For Paul may 
plant, and Apollos water, but the increase must 
come from God." Let us — 

IY. Look at the encouragement God has given 
us to labor for the advancement of his kingdom. 
It is freely admitted that there are difficulties in the 
way, and so there were in the conquest of Canaan. 
The fortresses were strong, and walled up to hea- 
ven; the men were of high stature, and of a warlike 
appearance; their implements of slaughter were 
dreadful, and their war-chariots of iron. These 
things made the hearts of many of the men of 
Israel melt within them, and cry, compared with our 
foes, "we are but as grasshoppers." But they were 
" children in whom there was no faith." The tak- 
ing of Canaan was eminently the work of faith, for 
every outward circumstance in the case was decid- 
edly unfavorable to Israel. 

Faith, and faith only, in the promise of God, 



SERMONS, 171 

nerved the heart of Joshua, and urged him on to 
the otherwise unequal conflict ; for he, like Moses, 
endured, as seeing Him who is invisible. When we 
look over the missionary field, what appalling diffi- 
culties present themselves everywhere ! The dis- 
tance to be overcome; the insalubrity of the climates 
to be encountered; the savage dispositions of the 
natives, endangering greatly, both property and life; 
the jealousy and cruelty of despotic governments; 
the long standing and deep-rooted superstitions and 
prejudices of the Heathen; and above all, that 
which exists at home as well as abroad, in !New Jer- 
sey as well in Burmah — yea, is found wherever de- 
generate man is found — the natural aversion of the 
heart to God. 

To encounter and subdue all those formidable 
foes, I know of but one source of encouragement, 
only one, and that is, the promise of God. Say, my 
brethren, is this enough ? I think I hear every 
heart cry enough : — 

"Enough, O gracious Lord, 
Our souls triumphant cry ; 
Our hearts can on thy promise live. 
Can on thy promise die." 

I shall now draw our subject to a close, by re- 
freshing your recollections with some of the forms 
of expression, in which God spake the promises at 
different periods and to different individuals. 

To Abraham he said — " In thy seed (which is 
Christ,) shall all the families of the earth be 
blessed." 



172 SERMONS. 

" The Sliiloli shall come, and unto him shall the 
gathering of the people be." 

" Ask of me, and I will give thee the Heathen 
for thy inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the 
earth for thy possessions." 

" He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall 
save the children of the needy, and shall break in 
pieces the oppressor. He shall come down like 
rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the 
earth. He shall have dominion also from sea to 
sea, and from the rivers unto the ends of the earth. 
The kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring 
presents ; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer 
gifts ; yea, all kings shall bow clown before him, 
all nations shall serve him. And it shall come 
to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the 
Lord's house shall be established in the top of the 
mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and 
all nations shall flow unto it. For the earth shall 
be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the water 
covers the sea. For unto us a child is born ; unto 
us a son is given ; and the government shall be upon 
his shoulder, and his name shall be called "Wonder- 
ful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting 
Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of 
his government and peace there shall be no end, 
upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, 
to order it, and to establish it, with judgment, and 
with justice from henceforth even for ever. 

The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will do this, and 
Jesus, in his commission, combined both our duty 



SERMONS. 173 

and our encouragement. All power is given unto 
me in heaven and upon earth ; go ye therefore and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : 
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I 
have commanded you ; and lo, I am with you alway 
even unto the end of the world. — Amen. 

O'er the gloomy hills of darkness. 
Look my sonl, be still and gaze, 
All the promises do travail, 
With a glorious day of grace ; 

Blessed Jubilee, 
Let thy glorious morning dawn. 

Let the Indian, let the Xegro, 
Let the rude barbarian see, 
That divine and glorious conquest, 
Once obtained on Calvary ; 

Let the Gospel 
Loud resound from pole to pole. 

Fly abroad, thou mighty Gospel, 
Win and conquer, never cease ; 
May thy lasting wide dominions 
Multiply and still increase, 

Sway thy sceptre, 
Saviour, all the world around. 



SERMON VIII 



TRAVELERS TO ETERNITY. 

•'Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that 
leadeth to destruction, and many there he which go in thereat. Because strait 
is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there he 
that find it."— Matt, vii : 13, 14. 

Christ was the prince of preachers, yet how few 
copy his style and manner! £To wonder that the 
common people heard him gladly. He lighted a 
candle before the window of the soul, that men 
might see their condition if they did not darken 
their own understanding by the ignorance which was 
in them. Those who heard him and did not repent 
were left without excuse, for light came into the 
world, and they loved darkness rather than light. 

Our Lord here represents all mankind as travelers. 
How striking the figure! ]N"one are at home. All 
begin the journey to a land beyond with the com- 
mencement of being. All enter at one gate, so 
wide and unobstructed, that there is abundance of 
room. The* name of the gate is native depravity. 

"We are " conceived in sin and shapen in ini- 
quity." " All have sinned and come short of the 
glory of God." "There is none righteous, no not 



SERMONS. 175 



" Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? 
not one." We all go astray as soon as we are born; 
depravity is an inheritance left us by our apostate 
parents. Xo one misses his full share. Xo striving 
is necessary to enter the wide gate. We go therein 
as naturally as water descends. We are inherently 
depraved — biased to a downward course. This 
may suffice in explanation of the wide gate. 

I. Observe : the wide gate is the entrance to a broad 
way. Innate depravity breaks out in open violation 
of the law of God. The way is so broad as to af- 
ford every one sufficient scope for his propensities. 
All men are sinners, but all do not follow the same 
class of sins. There are as many different ways 
of sinning as there are trades among men. Some 
trades are deemed more respectable than others ; so 
there are some sins, whieh by the world are reckon- 
ed genteel sins, and those who follow them would 
not be seen in the commission of low, mean, vul- 
gar crimes. The smooth-tongued, smiling-faced 
hypocrite would not descend to use profane language ; 
the deceitful trader, whose weights and measures are 
below the legal standard, would not, for the world, 
use his bare hand to pick the pockets of his cus- 
tomers. He does it with a pair of white kid gloves, 
in a fashionable, genteel way, that will not compro- 
mise his character as a gentleman. 

The covetous man moves in a path of his own — 
warily, evidently afraid of everybody; his heart 
hates the poor, and his soul loathes the very name 



176 SERMONS. 

of benevolence. He walks quietly along the nig- 
gard's path in the broad way, with hands in his 
pocket (for there is the temple of his god), while 
his soul's eye is steadfastly fixed on the mighty dol- 
lar, which he pursues as the hounds do the hare, 
determined to catch it, right or wrong. 

There is a crowd of the gay and volatile — the vo- 
taries of carnal pleasures, whose constant cry is 
"who will show us any good?" They drink at 
every fountain of mirth, but with every draught 
their thirst increases. Still they raise the husky 
cry — " Who will show us any good ? " 

See that company of moralists. "With great grav- 
ity they walk along in Indian file. They will not 
walk abreast, like other men, for every one says to 
his fellow, " Stand by thyself, for I am holier than 
thou." God speaks to these in words of terror — 
" Ye are as smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burnetii 
all the day." He means not us, say they; but be 
not deceived. He does mean you, who go about to 
establish your own righteousness, not submitting 
yourselves to the righteousness of God. You set 
your own filthy rags in opposition to him who is 
altogether lovely, and you occupy a path somewhat 
raised above the broad way. This pavement was 
made by the Scribes and Pharisees, and it has been 
white-washed and kept in repair by their follow- 
ers, both Jews and Gentiles, ever since — all who 
deem themselves righteous and despise others. 

Another path is occupied by the rum-sellers, who 
move along gaily, in high spirits, especially when 



SERMONS. 177 

they see crowds of thirsty customers at their doors. 
They know them as far as they can see them, for 
they bear on their faces the alcohol brand. These 
poison-venders stand together, like the Grecian 
phalanx, to maintain their destroying monopoly 
over body and soul. If an honest man questions 
the right of one of them to kill his neighbor, with 
unblushing face, State authority will be shown to 
kill as many as he can ; and he will produce from 
the judges a receipt for the sum of ten dollars, for 
the privilege of poisoning, slaying, and causing to 
perish his fellow citizens with impunity. The same 
judges will hang a man for poisoning one, while 
they caress and court these rum-sellers for their 
votes. 

Adjoining this path is that of the intemperate. 
If we could switch the drunkard-maker off the 
track, the path of the inebriate would soon be va- 
cated. The intemperate are to be pitied ; they have 
been beguiled, tempted, and chained, before they 
were aware, and they were dragged by the enemy 
at his will. Friends of temperance ! remember 
your former victories. You erected many trophies. 
The same arms and valor may achieve new tri- 
umphs, and result in saving many souls from pre- 
sent and eternal ruin. 

Time would fail to describe all the travelers in 
this broad road. They are more, and more various 
than the people and costumes of a metropolitan 
thoroughfare. The broad way of sin is made easy 
of progress by the natural inclination of the heart. 



178 SERMONS. 

There is a gradual descent from the gate to the 
mouth of the gulf, yet there are places confessedly 
hard for the sinner to glide over them comfortably. 
Sometimes the way runs very near Mount Sinai. 
The thunder's terrific roll, the- lightning's flash, and 
the voice, which says, " Cursed is every one that con- 
tinueth not in all things written in the book of the 
law to do them," — these make the sinner's stout 
heart quail, while conscience looks aghast, and 
cries, let us turn back, it is a fearful thing to fall 
into the hands of the living God. Solomon alludes 
to these, when he says, "The way of the transgres- 
sor is hard." The end is enveloped in a cloud of 
curling smoke, "and the smoke of their torment 
shall ascend up forever and ever." 

" Many there be that go in thereat because strait, 
is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to 
life, and few there be that find it." 

II. Some remarks concerning the narrow gate. 
This stands opposed to the other. As one is de- 
pravity, the other is its cure — regeneration, which is 
a thorough change of the temper and disposition — 
the heart and life. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 
except a man be born again he cannot see the king- 
dom of God." The Apostle speaks of putting off 
the old man, and putting on the new. The old man 
is too bulky ; there must be great reduction in or- 
der to pass. Spiritual pride must be evaporated. 
I have heard of a prisoner who fasted to enable his 
body to pass between the bars of his cell; and when 



SERMONS. 179 

his body was reduced to the proper size, his head 
was too large to pass. So with the infidel philoso- 
pher — his head is too large, and that he will not re- 
duce ; he will not discard the wisdom which for 
years has been filling his brain. Well did Solomon 
say, " He that is wise in his own conceit, there is 
more hope of a fool than of him. To enter in at 
the strait gate, man must be reduced to the smallest 
dimensions in every part, as Jesus most solemnly 
said, " Except ye be converted, and become as little 
children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of 
Heaven." One may mortify the body by self-denial; 
he may give up many things, and yet abuse such 
abstinence, to foster pride in the heart and cultivate 
the abomiDable weed of self-righteousness. 

Let us look at this narrow gate. By it stands a 
venerable personage, whose name is Evangelist. 
The Lord of the way, who, at the expense of his 
own life opened this passage for the escape of the 
prisoners of hope, placed him there to direct appli- 
cants. Many who are in the broad way become 
terrified at Sinai's thunderings and flashes. They 
have heard that those who are in the narrow way 
are not annoyed by these sights and sounds, there- 
fore they try to enter in at the strait gate. They 
come sometimes singly, and sometimes in crowds. 
One of them says to Evangelist, " sir, I wish to enter 
at the strait gate." Evangelist looks at him from 
head to foot; he can discern no tears on his cheeks, 
and he fears that the fountains of the great deep are 
not broken up. He can read no lines of grief for 



180 SERMONS. 

sin, no remorse for offending God, no shuddering 
apprehension of the wrath to corne. 

He questions him : "What think you of Christ? " 

"I think he was a very good man, and that he 
came to help us go to heaven ; that wherein we fail 
in weight and measure, he will make up our defici- 
ency." 

"Pray, what do you think of yourself?" 

"Well, I thank God that I am. not as other men 
are. I am honest, industrious, and sober; I say my 
prayers, and give alms to the poor, and I hope these 
will help me along." 

"What have you in these trunks?" 

"My honesty, my industry, my sobriety, and the 
prayers which were taught me in childhood, to re- 
commend me to God." 

" Can you read, sir?" 

"Yes, sir?" 

Well, read the inscriptions over the gate. Read 
them out, that we may all hear. " The Son of man 
came not to call the righteous^ but sinners to repent- 
ance." You see from this text, yon cannot enter. 
You are self-righteous, and not a sinner ; turn 
aside ; overhaul your bundles, and look at them in 
the light of heaven. May God give you eyes to 
discern that they are all filthy rags ; and then come 
again, a hungry, tldrsty, empty, naked sinner ; fall on 
your knees at the gate, and cry from the bottom of 
your heart, "God be merciful to me a sinner." 

He took the advice of Evangelist, and in a few 
days he tried aerain, Methinks I see him coming 



SERMONS. 181 

sadly dejected. He weeps, for he cannot help it. 
He does not depend on his tears to recommend him. 
While he walks and weeps, he says : 

" If tears of sorrow would suffice 

To pay the debt I owe, 
Tears should from both my weeping- eyet 

In ceaseless torrents flow. 
But no such sacrifice I plead 

To expiate my guilt ; 
No tears but those which thou hast shed ; 

No blood but thou hast spilt.' 1 

Evangelist says, " Well, you have come again, I 
see." 

" Yes, sir ! I see if I do not enter in by the 
strait gate I cannot see the kingdom of God." 

"What makes you weep so ? " 

"I cannot help it: for I have read in the Bible 
that my sins have killed the Prince of Life, and yet 
He prayed the Father to forgive me. It is this sin 
that breaks my heart, and makes my tears flow." 

"Do you think your tears will gain you admis- 
sion?" 

"JSTo, sir." 

'•Drops of grief can ne'er repay, 
The debt of love I owe ; 
Here, Lord, I give myself away, 
'Tis all that I can do." 

" When you were here before you were loaded with 
bundles; what have you done with them ? " 

n I have done as you told me. I examined them 
in the light of heaven, and found all the articles, 
which I so highly valued, worthless. They were all 
8 



182 SERMONS, 

stained with sin ; their savor was the savor of death. 
I cast them all away. Sir, do you think there is 
any hope for me ? " 

" I think your prospect now is pretty fair. I will 
go with you, for I am placed here by Jesus Christ 
to help such as you." They both went up to the 
gate ; both knocked. £To answer. Both fell on their 
knees, and knocked, and sobbed and cried. The 
sinner, too, beat his breast with one hand, and the 
door of mercy with the other, crying, " God be mer- 
ciful to me, a sinner." A voice from within said, 
"Who is there?" He answered, "A sinner, ready 
to perish." "Have you brought anything with you 
in the shape of good works or self-righteousness?" 
"I did at first, but found them worthless, and threw 
all away ; for I read that Christ is the end of the 
law for righteousness to every one who believeth." 
"Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" "Lord, I 
believe; help thou my unbelief." 

Then a voice was heard, saying, "Porter, open 
the gate and let the sinner in, for it is a faithful 
saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus 
Christ came into the world to save sinners." The 
gate flew open, and as he went through, the sinner 
opened his hands and said, Lord, 

" Nothing in my hands I bring ; 
Only to thy cross I cling.'" 

Gabriel took his golden harp and struck the key- 
note, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! an heir of God is 
born again ; a joint heir with Jesus Christ has passed 



SERMONS. 183 

the gate of regeneration. Glory to God in the 
highest ! Then the Lord of the way said to one of 
the shining ones that stood by, " Be thou a minis- 
tering angel to this soul which I have redeemed with 
my own blood ; shield him from adverse provi- 
dences, and when faint and weary, fan him with thy 
wings ; leave him not until he shall finish his jour- 
ney." 

Evangelist passed through after him, and together 
they praised the Lord and Saviour of men. They 
did not go far before they came to a certain water ; 
and the penitent believer said, "I remember read- 
ing in the Book of God, that Jesus went from Gali- 
lee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him, and 
John baptized him in the river Jordan." Now, here 
is water, "What doth hinder me to be baptized?" 
Evangelist said, "If thou believest with all thy 
heart, thou mayest." "I believe that Jesus Christ 
is the Son of God." They both went down into the 
water, and he baptized him, and when they were 
come up out of the water, Evangelist returned to 
his post to help others as the Lord commanded him. 
But the obedient believer went on his way rejoicing. 
Time will not permit me to follow him further to- 
day. I only say, that he had many trials and many 
comforts by the way. The Saviour never left him. 
Whether he is yet on the road, or has gone to his 
home on the other side, I know not; but this I 
know, he is in safe hands and shall never perish.* 

* This sermon is mil of the Welsh peculiarities. If it does not conform to 
modern Homiletics in every particular, it is well arranged for effect. The pe- 
culiar close, as unusual as it seems, is most admirable. When we have ceased 
reading, the mind still follows the traveler, upheld and guided by the divine 
companionship and power. 



SERMON IX. 



THE SHINING DISCIPLE. 

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, 
and glorify your Father which is in heaven."— Matt. 5 : 16. 

Worldly men aim to shine in their profession. 
The farmer desires to make the soil he cultivates 
attract the attention of passers by ; the mechanic's 
ambition is to make his wares shine, and secure to 
himself the name of a good workman; the lawyer 
Btrives to be learned in the law, and to shine at the 
bar and in the forum. The artist studies the effect 
of light and shade, so that the touches of his pen- 
cil may bring out more prominently the points 
needful for a good picture, worthy of preservation, 
and that his own fame may shine in the annals of 
the illustrious. 

But, alas! there is a serious drawback to all 
worldly desires, even the most laudable earthly am- 
bition. The whole will soon be involved in one 
common ruin, for " the heavens shall pass away with 
a great noise, the elements melt with fervent heat, 
and the earth with the works that are therein shall 
be burned up." There is nothing in all this to 
damp the ardor of the Christian or quench his holy 
ambition, for he only is the man whose works will 
shine in eternity. Let us inquire : 



SERMONS. 185 

I. Whence does the disciple of Christ derive 

HIS LIGHT? 

IT. How to let our light shine; and 
ELI. The motive that should actuate us to 
let our light shine. 

I. Whence does the disciple of Christ derive 
his light ? 

It is too obvious to be denied, that man, in the 
state of nature, is devoid of all spiritual light. 
" Darkness cover eth the earth and gross darkness 
the people." - Paul reminded the Ephesians of what 
their moral state was previous to their conversion. 
" Sometimes ye were darkness, but now are ye light 
in the Lord : walk ye as the children of light." 
By moral darkness is meant destitution of spiritual 
knowledge of God and divine things. God en- 
dowed man, at his creation, with the knowledge of 
himself; but mark how soon the breath of sin put 
out that light. The understanding was darkened, 
being alienated from the life of God, through the 
ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness 
of their heart. Adam, the transgressor, soon be- 
trayed his ignorance of God, by his vain attempt 
to hide himself from the eye of Him who searcheth 
the heart and trieth the reins, and will bring every 
work into judgment, with all our secret things. 
How different were the views of David, a man en- 
lightened by the Holy Spirit, who said, " Whither 
shall I go from thy Spirit, or whither shall I flee 
from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, 



186 SERMONS, 

thou art there ; if I make my bed in hell, behold 
thou art there ; if I take the wings of the morning 
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even 
there shall thy hand lead me." He only, who 
brought light out of darkness, can shine into our 
hearts, and give us the light of the knowledge of 
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. In 
the spiritual as well as in the material creation, 
Christ is the light of the world. Men bestow much 
labor to dispel the darkness of the human soul by 
artificial light ; but every attempt has been a total 
failure. No system of education, however wisely 
planned, and sedulously applied, has yet succeeded 
in removing the darkness of the human heart. 
" Since the world began was it not heard that any 
man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. " 
Let us notice the simple, yet beautiful figure, that 
Christ used in this passage, to illustrate and enforce 
his doctrine. " Ye are the light of the world. A 
city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men 
light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a 
candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in 
the house." " Let your light so shine before men 
that they may see your good works and glorify 
your father which is in heaven." 

Let us look at the comparison. When a man 
makes a candle he designs it to give light ; but it 
has no inherent light in itself, it must be applied 
from without. God made man in his own image, 
designed to glorify his Maker. He crowned man 
with glory and honor, and doubtless the brightest 



SERMONS. 187 

gem in his crown was the knowledge of his Creator. 
But, alas ! sin put on an extinguisher, and his light 
went out in total darkness. The crown has fallen 
from our heads, and woe unto us because we have 
sinned, and come short of the glory of God. The 
disciples had a new light applied, which was theirs 
by free gift, superior to that which was extinguished 
in Eden, it being the light of the knowledge of the 
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. This 
new light is communicated in the new creation, 
when Jesus says let there be light in that dark soul, 
and there is light. Ask that man " From whom did 
you derive light in your once benighted soul ? " He 
will freely answer " from Christ, the light of the 
world. He took a lump of clay and touched mine 
eyes and the scales fell. And whereas I was blind, 
now I see. " 

II. HOW WE ARE TO LET OUR LIGHT SHINE. 

We have in our text a divine direction, to which 
we should give heed as to a light that shineth, to 
guide our feet in the path of duty and christian 
privilege. Let your light so shine, like a candle 
placed on a candlestick. Some men are mighty 
fond of putting their light under a bushel. What 
a strange idea! A bushel was never made for 
such a purpose, and if you put your light there it 
will never do any good to yourself nor anybody else; 
your house will be as dark as a dungeon; you will 
be stumbling over everything in the house, and if 
you are a husband and a father, your wife will be 



188 SERMONS. 

stumbling, your children will be stumbling. Be- 
ware, 0, beware, lest through your neglect they 
stumble into hell. Your conduct makes your own 
case dark and dubious. If the light that is in you 
be darkness how great is that darkness ! When 
you meet them at the bar of God what can you 
expect from them but reproaches? Husband, you 
knew that I was in my sin, and though I laid in 
your bosom, you never whispered my danger. 
Father, you knew that there was a Saviour, able and 
willing to save sinners, but you never urged us to 
fly from the wrath to come, to the arms of that 
bleeding Saviour, and now it is too late — too late ! 
The things that belonged to our peace are hid from 
our eyes. 0, my friend! I beseech you, by the 
gratitude you owe to Christ, who, you hope, has 
given you light; by the love you bear your family ; 
by your duty to glorify God — to take your light 
from its concealment and put it on the candlestick, 
where it may shine to the glory of God, and your 
own comfort, and those around you. 

God has organized his church for the special pur- 
pose that his people may set their light therein and 
let it shine. Do you ask how shall I do this? I 
will endeavor to tell you. First — look for a church 
formed after the divine model, with the name and 
stamp of Christ upon it, and be sure that it is all of 
gold, in doctrine and practice, without any mixture 
of base metal ; and if it should happen to be ten 
miles from your dwelling, never mind that; you 
will have two hours to commune with Christ on 



SERMONS. 189 

the way, and if you find that the church is housed 
in a log-cabin, never mind that, it will the better 
help you to remember him whose first earthly dwell- 
ing was the stable, and his bed the manger. This 
will help you to admire the grace of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, who was ricji, but for your sake he became 
poor, that you, through his poverty, might be made 
rich. When all is settled within, give vent to your 
full heart, and say — Friends, I desire to go with 
you, for I have heard that God is with you. Come 
all ye that fear the Lord, and I will tell you what he 
hath done for my soul. This is the way, walk ye 
in it. The servant of Jesus Trill take you affec- 
tionately by the hand and lead you down into the 
baptismal stream, in the very footprints of the great 
Redeemer. You will feel as you never felt before; 
you will feel such a flame of gratitude arising from 
your heart ; you will feel more like singing than you 
ever felt before. "Well, my brother, sing away — tell 
the world your joy! The children of God will sing 
with you, for they yet remember the day of their 
espousal. 

Didst thou the great example lead, 

In Jordan's swelling flood, 
And shall my pride disdain the deed 

That's worthy of my God ? 

O Lord, the ardor of thy love 

Reproves my cold delay ; 
And now my willing footsteps move 

In thy delightful way. 

Now, the table of the Lord is spread with a feast 
of fat things ; of fat things, full of marrow ; of 



190 SERMONS. 

wines on the lees, well refined. The hand of christ- 
ian fellowship is extended to you, with the cordial 
welcome of every christian heart. Nay, the king 
himself is present at the table, showing you his 
sacred body, that body that was broken for you, and 
the blood that was so freely shed for your redemption. 
Now you feel as the Queen of Sheba did at the en- 
tertainment of King Solomon. There was no more 
spirit in her ; and she said to the King, "It was a 
true report that I heard in mine own land of thy 
acts and of thy wisdom ; howbeit, I believed not 
the words until I came and mine eyes had seen it. 
And behold, the half was not told me. Thy wisdom 
and thy prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. 
Happy are thy men ; happy are these thy servants 
which stand continually before thee, and that hear 
thy wisdom." But, behold, we have a greater than 
Solomon here. Now, my brother, you are regular- 
ly set on the golden candlestick — the church of the 
living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. The 
seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, 
and the seven candlesticks, which thou sawest, are 
the seven churches. Now, my brother, you are in 
the most eligible position to be a shining christian. 
" let your light so shine before men that they may 
see your good works, and glorify your Father which 
is in heaven." Show forth the praises of him who 
hath brought you out of darkness into his marvel- 
ous light. Shine in your steady adherence to the 
doctrine and ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in 



SERMONS. 191 

the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that 
your work is not in vain in the Lord. You are well 
aware that an unsteady candle gives but a nickering 
light. A moveable light-house would endanger the 
ship, and the lives of the whole crew. Keep your 
candle from the winds of false doctrine ; if it does 
not go out entirely, it will flare and waste fearfully. 

The apostle Paul has warned us of this danger, 
" That we henceforth be no more children, tossed 
to and fro, and carried about with every wind of 
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning crafti- 
ness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." Some 
men are compared to wandering stars, full of specu- 
lative notions — one thing one day, another the next, 
so they are all the time wandering from the truth 
into greater and thicker darkness. My brother, be 
thou a fixed star, where the Sun of Righteousness 
shall always shine on thy soul, and reflect thou bis 
light on all around thee. Be always in thy place at 
the house of God, in the social praying circle, as 
well as when the word of God is publicly proclaim- 
ed. And let thy voice be heard in prayer, in ex- 
hortation, and in the high praises of thy Eedeemer. 
And so let thy light shine. Shine in the world by 
thy strict sobriety, by thine integrity, by thy lib- 
erality, as God has prospered thee, by kindness to 
the poor, and sympathy to the afflicted. Shine in 
every christian virtue, and men will glorify your 
Father, which is in heaven, and take knowledge 
that you have been with Jesus. 

Observe, again, there is no lamp or candle but 



192 SERMONS. 

needs trimming and snuffing ; without this thy light 
will be dull and dim, and seem at times ready to 
go out. How dull, at best, shines our light, my dear 
brethren, when we compare ourselves with many of 
those brilliant lights that are gone before us. John 
the Baptist, whose character we venerate, is said to 
have been a burning and shining light. Paul was 
set, as a medium, to reflect the light of Christ on 
the Gentile world, which he faithfully did. " From 
Jerusalem, all the way to Illyricum, I have fully 
preached the Gospel of Christ." 

The great cause of the superiority of their light 
over ours was, that they trimmed their lamps more 
frequently and thoroughly than we do ; hence, they 
did more good, and brought a greater revenue of 
glory to God than we have done. The question 
well becomes our lips, " "What have I done for him 
that died to save my wretched soul ?" 

God commanded Moses to make a candlestick 
for the tabernacle of a talent of pure gold, with 
snuffers and snuff dishes. The lamps in the house 
of God needed snuffing, in order to emit a brilliant 
light. The oil used in the house of God, was the 
pure olive oil ; there was no filth or snuff arising 
from that. The oil was emblematic of the grace 
of our Lord Jesus Christ. This you may see beau- 
tifully illustrated in Zech. iv. 12. Jesus Christ, 
God, man, Mediator, supplies his people with the 
oil of his grace out of himself, which is conveyed, 
through the golden pipes of the Spirit's sanctifying 
influences, into the vessels of their hearts. This 



SERMONS. 193 

explains the mystery why the lamp of the christian 
burns so long, while so many opposite influences 
are continually striving to put it out. 

Christ is a living olive tree, therefore the supply 
will never be exhausted. "Because I live ye shall 
live also." It hath pleased the Father, that in him 
all fullness should dwell, that we might receive out 
of his fullness and grace for grace. 

I said, there was impurity in the oil that required 
snufhng. That was caused by the wick. This is 
the spirit of man. The spirit of man is the candle 
of the Lord, and the flesh is a very near kind. It 
is our own imperfect natures that makes so much 
trimming and snufhng necessary; while in the 
world, we live in an atmosphere unfavorable for our 
light to shine. But Christians look for a better 
country, where the air is pure, and there, body, 
soul and spirit will be thoroughly sanctified. Then 
ye shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of your 
Father, and there the golden snuffers, so necessary 
in our present state, to remove our selfishness, our 
love of the world, our sloth in divine things, and 
all that retard our light from shining, shall be laid 
aside. The conflict with sin will be ended. 



1 Nor sorrow, nor sickness, nor pain, 
Nor sin, nor temptation, nor fear, 

Shall never molest us again, 
Perfection of glory reigns there. 

1 These souls and these bodies shall shine. 

In robes of salvation and praise, 
And banquet on pleasures divine, 
Where God his full beauty displays." 



194 SERMONS. 

III. The motive that should actuate us in 

LETTING OUR LIGHT SHINE. 

Men are moved in their actions and doings by 
different motives or principles which operate on the 
heart, and the heart moves the physical powers' of 
the body and produces the acts of our lives. The 
quality of the motive gives the character of the acts 
that it produces. If the motive be good and direct- 
ed by an unerring rule, then He, who searcheth the 
heart and weigheth our actions, will approve of the 
productions and reward them with, "Well done, 
good and faithfull servant, enter thou into the joys 
of thy Lord." Some are actuated only by the power 
of self-love. This predominates in all they do. Self- 
love is uppermost, enthroned in their affections, and 
whatever they sacrifice, they present it before the 
shrine of selfishness. So did the ancient Pharisees. 
When they gave alms to the poor, they sounded the 
trumpet before them, that they might have glory of 
men. Giving alms to the poor Christ everywhere 
approved. But the motive of the hypocrites he 
condemned, which was to be seen of men, and have 
glory of them. They sought their own glory, and 
not the glory of God. Ostentation and display be- 
tray the motive of the heart to be selfish and hypo- 
critical. It is plain, from the text, that Christ de- 
signed that the good works of his people should be 
seen of men ; but not by any ostentatious effort of 
their own to secure glory to themselves. " That men 
may see your good works, and glorify your Father, 
which is in heaven." Observe, here, that the good 



SERMONS. 195 

works, which Christ recommends, are rays from the 
light within them ; and these will shine and show 
where they are, even to men, in darkness. There 
are many so dull of comprehension, that they are 
very slow to learn the doctrine and practice of the 
christian religion. But, put that religion in opera- 
tion and none is so dull, but when his hunger is ap- 
peased, he will say, that is good ; when naked, 
and is clothed, but will say, 0, what a comfort, 
when sick, and is visited, by sympathy and love , 
he will ask, " Who moved you to such compassion ? " 
You will answer, "My Father, which is in heaven." 
He will say, " 0, how good your Father is. Will 
he be a Father to me also?" "Yes, he is good, 
immensely good, and he means that his goodness 
should lead you to repentance, and constrain you to 
love and serve him, too." The burning rays, ema- 
nating from Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, are 
thus brought down and concentrated by the humble 
effort of a disciple of Christ, to affect the heart 
of the impenitent man, and make it relent and yield 
to dying love, and say, " Lord, I give myself away, 
'tis all that I can do." Thus he begins to glorify 
God. " So let your light shine before men, that they 
may see your good works, and glorify your Father, 
which is in heaven." 

To love and glorify God is the sum of all christian 
duties. The glory of God we should consult before 
our own salvation. Let us strive to glorify God and 
he will take care of our salvation, for salvation is of 
the Lord. God says, " My son, you honor me by 



196 SERMONS. 

your obedience to my commandments, and you will 
have nothing to fear in this world nor in the next. 
Leave all your wants for me to supply ; leave all 
your enemies for me to subdue, for your weakest 
foe is too strong for you to handle. You only do 
what I command you, and be assured that my com- 
mandments are not grievous." "My yoke is easy, 
and my burden is light." My grace will be suffici- 
ent for thee in every trial, and my strength will be 
made perfect in thy weakness, and those enemies — 
sin and Satan — you so much dread at present I will 
soon lay prostrate at thy feet, and say, Come and 
put thy feet on the neck of these thy enemies. 

Keep in mind whom you are called to glorify, 
and induce others to glorify Him with you. 

He is not a stranger, in whom you feel but little 
interest, but your Father, who is in heaven, and who 
is infinitely worthy of all praise and adoration. 
This is now, and forever shall be, the employment 
of the blessed in heaven. Let us begin to learn the 
theme before we ascend : "And I heard the voice of 
many angels round about the throne, and the living 
creatures and the elders, and the number of them 
was ten thousand times ten thousands, and thousands 
of thousands, saying, with a loud voice, worthy is 
the lamb that was slain, to receive power, and 
riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor and 
glory, and blessing. Blessing and honor, and glory 
and power be to him that sitteth upon the throne, 
and unto the lamb forever and ever." 

Those that shine now on earth as candles shall soon 
shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father. 



SERMON X. 



SOBER-MIKDEDKESS.* 

" Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded.''— Titus 2 : 6. 

If there be a class of human beings to whom we 
attach greater importance than any other, that class 
comprises the young men. Where is the chief 
solicitude of a mother's heart fixed? Upon her 
sons. They are the delight of her eyes — the joy of 
her heart, and constitute her most pleasing prospect 
in relation to this life. For them her prayers and 
sighs ascend to the God who gave them, that they 
may be sober-minded ; to turn away from the snares 
of sin and folly and give their hearts to God. And 
fathers, that fear God, are no less anxious to train 
them up in the nurture and fear of the Lord, that they 
may be rooted and grounded in a virtuous course, 
so as not to forsake it in years to come. Care and 
concern for young men, that they be sober-minded 
is not confined to parents and immediate relatives. 
No ; this interest is general ; it pervades our entire 
country. If you doubt the assertion, look abroad, 
and read the evidences of what I say. They are 
inscribed in legible characters on all those walls 

* On the death of Joseph S. Swan. 



198 



SERMONS. 



that enclose our ten thousand common schools, our 
thousands of academies, high-schools, colleges, and 
universities. On all these the words stand forth in 
bold relief — " Young men be sober-minded." You 
were the chief objects for whom this vast expense 
and toil were taken, to fit you for the stations that 
God designed you to fill, that you may bring a tri- 
bute of glory to your Maker, confer a lasting 
benefit on your country and race, and set in death 
like the cloudless sun on a fair summer eve. Young 
men, can you be listless while all this interest is felt 
for your welfare? Let it not be said, amid this 
general anxiety, that you alone are indifferent. 
Let it not be said over the lifeless body of any 
young man in this assembly — "This youth was en- 
dowed with an immortal mind; but, alas! that 
mind he neglected, he intoxicated his soul with the 
fumes of sin ; he never called his spirit to reflect on 
its immortal destiny; he never put the question 
seriously and soberly to himself ' Where, 0, where 
shall my eternal abode be fixed, in bliss ineffable 
or in woe unendurable, where the worm bred in the 
conscience shall never die and the flame kindled by 
sin shall never be' extinguished ? ' " Young man, 
whatever you omit, omit not the care of your soul. 
Let this, I beseech you, be your first concern. 
" Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteous- 
ness, and all other necessary blessings will be added 
unto you." 

" Religion should our thoughts engage, 
Amid our youthful bloom : 
: Twill fit us for declining age, 
And for the awful tomb.'" 



SERMONS. 199 

Young men, you are now passing through the 
important process of forming a character for your- 
selves for life, and for an endless hereafter. And 
what you wish yourselves to be that you will be, all 
men cannot prevent you. 

If you aim to be pious, useful and holy, God will 
give you grace to be what you desire to be. For if 
you cherish this desire you will ask God for the 
object of your wish, and he will give it you. " Ask 
and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find." On 
the other hand, if you are inclined to be reckless 
and regardless of consequences, stubborn, obstinate, 
self-willed, bent on a course of sin and dissipation, 
without a change of purpose and inclination, you 
will succeed in making yourself the worthless ob- 
ject you have aimed to form. If any of you are 
pursuing this downward career, remember, that the 
farther you go greater the speed. It is downward, 
and the declivity will increase the velocity, and 
harder it will be for you to stop. While there is 
hope listen to the exhortation. Nothing but a sober 
thought will prevent your ruin. 

" Stop, poor sinner, stop and think, 
Before you farther go, 
Why will you sport upon the brink 
Of everlasting woe." 

The mind governs the man as the helm governs 
the ship. If the helm be wavering from side to 
side, the ship makes little or no progress in the 
course she should go, and is in constant danger of 
falling into the trough of the sea, to be swallowed 



200 



SERMONS. 



up in the vortex of the mighty deep. As the helms- 
man must meet the mountain wave which would 
otherwise turn the vessel from her course and en- 
danger all on board, so, when a wave of temptation 
assails you, yield not to its force. Set your mind 
steadfast to meet it and you will break its power. 
Besist Satan, steadfast in the faith, and he will flee 
from you. Meet the enemy of your soul as Sam- 
son met the lion, and you, like that man of might, 
will obtain meat from the eater and sweet from the 
strong. Having thus overcome, you will rejoice, 
with Paul, and say, "Thanks be unto God, who 
giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus 
Christ/' Young men, mind your helm, and be 
sober-minded, lest you make a shipwreck of your 
soul. 

The mind is to the man what the conductor is to 
the train. Every thoughtful passenger, when he 
takes his seat in the car, will naturally whisper to 
himself, "I hope that our conductor is a sober- 
minded man." "What an immense responsibility 
rests upon him. All this crowd of human beings ; 
a minute's neglect on his part, may precipitate us 
all into the jaws of death. At his command, the 
train moves and at his word it stops. He it is that 
accelerates or moderates the speed of the mighty 
moving mass. Young men you have a train to con- 
duct ; all that comes under the influence of your 
example will fasten themselves to your train. 
Where you go they will go ; when you stop they 
will stop. You are moving onward with great 



SERMONS. 201 

velocity. Can you hear my voice amid the rum- 
bling noise around you ? I cry stop ! Call up one 
sober thought; ask yourself a few sober questions. 
First — "Who have I here on boardf" Answer: 
" There are my brothers and sisters, relatives and 
friends, with a number of young men of my acquain- 
tance who have been influenced by my example to 
follow in my train." Second — "Am I in the right 
track?" Remember that there are two: one lead- 
eth to destruction, and the other to life. Between 
these there are marked distinctions ; one is straight, 
while the other is crooked ; one is light, while the 
other is dark. 

" Your way is dark and leads; to death, 
Why will you persevere ? 
Can you in endless torments dwell, 

Shut up in black despair ? 
Why will you in that crooked way 

Of sin and folly go ? 
In pain you travail all your day, 

To reap immortal woe. 
But he that turns to God shall live, 

Through his abounding grace ; 
He will the richest blessings give, 

To those that seek his face." 

Another important branch of the conductor's 
duty is to mind the true time, so as to avoid a col- 
lision. Young men, watch the time, the true time, 
not sinners' time, that is always too slow. By-and-by 
is their time. ' < "When I have a convenient time I will 
call on thee." Sober thoughts and serious things, 
to-morrow. The sinner's clock is always too slow. 
He cries, There is time enough to take care of the 
soul and prepare for death. O, my young friends, 



202 SERMONS. 

beware, beware, beware of a collision. What rum- 
bling sound do I hear ? Is it the voice of an angel? 
]STay, the God of angels speaks and speaks to you. 
"Beware, lest at any time your hearts be overcharg- 
ed with surfeiting and drunkenness, and that day 
come upon you unawares." " The Lord of that 
servant shall come when he looketh not for him, 
and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut 
him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the 
hypocrites. There will be weeping and gnashing 
of teeth." O this will be a serious collision — irre- 
parable — fatal. He that, being often reproved, 
hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed, and 
that without remedy. 

It is an awful thing to fall into the hands of the 
living God. To avoid such a fearful catastrophe, 
consider the time, that it is now high time to awake 
out of sleep. God's time is the true time, and His 
time is now. "Behold, now is the accepted time ; 
behold, now is the day of salvation." He repeats it, 
that you may not mistake it. To-day, if you hear 
his voice, harden not your heart. His voice is heard 
distinctly in the melancholy news that announced 
the death of our beloved and much respected bro- 
ther, Joseph Swan, whose life exhibited in our 
midst, a worthy example for young and old to fol- 
low him, as he, through grace, followed Christ. His 
life was short among us. He arose like a star and 
shone awhile in our midst, and suddenly disappear- 
ed from our view, to shine still more clear in a 
brighter clime. 



SERMONS. 203 

Joseph came to his death by the upsetting of a 
boat in Cape Fear Biver, North Carolina, on the 
28th day of November, 1856, containing the captain, 
the first officer, and two sailors. Joseph and one 
of the two sailors sunk into a watery grave before 
help could reach them. Thus have his parents 
been called to lament the death of one of the most 
kind and dutiful of sons. A brother and a sister to 
weep the departure of a brother indeed, who took 
a deep and affectionate interest in their welfare. 

And this Church has lost, in his death, one of he; 
brightest ornaments. He was the first that was 
baptized in fellowship of this branch of the Zion of 
God. And from that day his life proved the sin- 
cerity of his love to Christ and to his cause. He 
was punctual in his attendance, fervent in his devo- 
tion, liberal in his feelings, always ready to every 
good word and work. Precious youth, thy work 
was soon done. Thy heavenly Father called thee 
away from this stormy world, to sail in the calm, 
unruffled sea of a Saviour's love. In his death, the 
sons of the ocean lost a friend. He had their eter- 
nal interest near his heart. When he went to sea, 
he was careful to lay up a supply of Bibles and re- 
ligious tracts to distribute among the seamen, while 
they were traversing the mighty deep, to direct 
their minds to Christ, the bright and morning star, 
the only guide to the port of heavenly bliss, " Where 
billows cease to roll, and the weary are at rest." 

About the 10th of January, 1856, Joseph Swan 
was in a ship, off Cape Henry, in one of the most 



204 SERMONS, 

terrific gales of that stormy month, blowing them 
directly towards that fatal shore. A Baltimore pilot 
was on board, who had often witnessed severe storms 
off the Capes, but nothing like that. He and the 
seamen were frantic with fear. They reeled to and 
fro, and were at their wits ends. Joseph only was 
calm and composed, directing the minds of the 
pilot and the terrified sailors to pray and trust in 
God, who alone was able to effect their deliverance. 
He told them, I am sorry for you who have families 
to leave behind you ; but as for me, I am ready to 
go, if the will of God be so, to take me away ; I 
have given myself to Him, and I feel myself safe 
in His hands. My mother and friends will grieve 
after me, but their sorrow will soon turn to joy ; we 
shall soon meet again. 

The pilot, who related the circumstance to a 
friend that was then in Philadelphia, stated, he 
never witnessed the power of religion exemplified 
as he did in that remarkable youth. It seemed to 
have made a powerful impression on his mind in 
favor of that religion that was able to buoy up the 
mind in the midst of the most imminent peril. 
Who knows, but some of that company, won by 
his meek and godly deportment, will, through grace, 
be stars in the crown of his rejoicing in the day of 
the Lord Jesus. 

I shall now read extracts of letters, which I have 
received from him at different times, which were 
written from different places. These will show the 
state of his mind, and how his thoughts were occu- 



SERMONS. 205 

pied in different circumstances : " Philadelphia, 
January 15th, 1856." In this, he gives a particular 
account of his perilous passage from Baltimore to 
the mouth of the Delaware, wherein he acknow- 
ledged the hand of the Lord in working out their 
deliverance when they had given up all for lost. 
He concludes thus : " I hope you and wife are well. 
I have enjoyed very good health. I believe I have 
given you the full particulars of our stormy passage 
as near as possible. I shall never forget the happy 
hours which I have spent in our little church ; for I 
assure you that I, feel happy in Christ Jesus — in him 
I shall ever trust ; for I have seen the wondrous 
working of his hand. I hope that brotherly love 
will ever continue in the church. I am ever ready 
with open heart to contribute to the wants of the 
church. I believe I must close, as it is getting late. 
May God bless and be with you both. Remember 
me to the members, and also in your prayers, I need 
them much. I remain the same, striving with what 
talent God has given me to do all the good I can. 
From a faithful friend in the cause of Christ. " 

Another from New Castle, Delaware, February 
12th, 1856. He states " that they were still fast in 
the ice. Yet it is God's will, and I feel confident it 
must be for some wise purpose. This is the only 
thing that cheers me up in these dull times. But 
one thing makes the times appear more dull, there 
is no Baptist church in this place, and I have not 
been inside of one since I left home, and I do not 
think that I can ever enjoy myself at any place 
9 



206 



SERMONS. 



better than I did at our own little church. I love 
the day I first joined t the army of the Lord, and 
I wish there were many more that could feel as 
I feel. I pray God that I may do much good by 
leading many of my fellow men to seek their own 
safety before it is too late. My heart is full of love 
and gratitude to our Saviour, and I pray you not to 
forget me in your prayers. Please to let me know 
when you need any assistance. I must now close. 
I could write a sheet full, but it would all amount 
to the same thing, for you can tell my feelings from 
my writings. From a sincere friend in the cause of 
Christ." 

I shall now read you the whole of this last letter,* 
written in New York, the day before he left on that 
voyage which bore him from earth to a far brighter 
clime, where storms and tempests never blow, and 
the sun never sets. 

My dear young friends, in the brief life of 
Joseph Swan, God has set before you a living ex- 
ample of sober-mindedness. He lived among you. 
You saw his meek and humble deportment. You 
witnessed him with a heavenly smile and willing 
step follow his Eedeemer down into the baptismal 
stream. You saw him wending his way to the 
house of prayer, and there you heard him, on his 
knees, pleading with God on your behalf. I talk 
not unto you of a stranger, of whose existence you 
may harbor a doubt, but of one whom God placed 
in your midst, as a living example of what the grace 
of God can do, for a young man of like passions 

*The letter referred to has been lost. 



SERMONS, 207 

with yourselves. I would not have you to suppose 
that his case was an extra effort of saving grace. 
No, no. The same grace that made him a monu- 
ment of mercy, can do for you what it did for him. 
" His hand is not shortened that it cannot save ; 
neither is his ear heavy that it cannot hear ; but 
your iniquities have separated between you and 
your God, and your sins have hid his face that he 
will not hear." 

Your only course of safety is in the immediate 
forsaking of your sin and turning unto God, who 
says unto you, " Turn ye, turn ye, why will you die." 

" O, sinners, seek His grace, 
Whose wrath ye cannot bear ; 
Fly to the shelter of his cross, 
And find salvation there." 

I see before me several young men who profess 
to love Christ. Let me ask you, how do you feel 
when you compare yourself with your dear depart- 
ed brother ? Have you attained to the same spir- 
itual stature that he attained to in his short pil- 
grimage? Have you been as faithful in the cause 
of Christ? Say not_my gift is small; his gift was 
not large ; but he went and traded at the throne, 
every time he gained more to it. The difference 
does not consist so much in the size of the gift as 
in the size of the heart. Pray God for a larger 
heart, that you may say with our brother, in one of 
his letters, " My heart is full of love to Jesus Christ." 
There lies the secret — both of gifted brethren and 
gifted ministers. for a heart full of love to Jesus 



208 SERMONS. 

Christ, and that will loosen our stammering tongues 
so as to vie with Gabriel in exalting the Saviour of 
men. "Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth 
speaketh." 

A word to the parents and near relatives. 

God's providence is a great deep, not to be fathom- 
ed by human lines. Truly his ways are in the seas 
and his paths in the deep waters, and men by search- 
ing cannot find out the Almighty to perfection. 
Dark and mysterious as this dispensation of God 
appears to us, if we should dare to ask, Why hast 
thou taken away one so young and so promising ? 
The Lord would answer our presumptuous inquiries 
by asking us a question, " Have I not a right to do 
what I please with my own ? I have given and I 
have taken him away ; therefore, be still, and know 
that I am God, and what thou knowest not now 
thou shalt know hereafter ; " therefore, wait awhile, 
and God will make that which is now dark clear as 
noonday. When John the Baptist was beheaded, 
his disciples did wisely, they went and told Jesus ; 
he only could soothe their sorrows, and give them 
beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and 
the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness. 
Go, my friends, with your grieved spirits and broken 
hearts to Jesus, and he will bind them up. " Cast 
your burden on him and he will bear it." "He will 
not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking 
flax." Remember that we have a merciful High 
Priest that is touched with the feelings of our in- 
firmities. Therefore, seek his sympathies, for that 



SERMONS. 209 

and that only will avail you in this day of your dis- 
tress, and let us all prepare to meet our God, and 
our departed christian friends in that happy land 
where sorrow and sighing shall he forever unknown. 
Our departed Christian friends are not lost, hut 
saved — saved from the last vestige of sin ; saved 
from sorrow, sighing, and pain. They are not dead, 
but sleep. 

Their Father laid down their bodies to sleep in a 
safe place. Whether in the earth or in the seas, they 
are safe, not a particle of them shall be lost. Christ- 
died to redeem them : not their souls only, but their 
bodies also. He suffered in every part of his sacred 
body ; not a particle was exempted. He was over- 
whelmed in pain and anguish, to purchase our Re- 
demption. The body that was prepared for the Son 
of God was prepared for the sacrifice. And, also, 
his immaculate soul was made a sacrifice for sin, 
" My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto 
death." Listen to the groans and sighs that arise 
from the gloom of Gethsemane, while his body was 
as yet untouched. What did this anguish mean ? 
His Spirit met the conflict. Justice was presenting 
the cup, and that cup was full ; its contents had 
been accumulating for four thousand years. Sin 
formed the basis, sins of every size and form ; sins 
of omission and commission ; sins against the law 
of God and all his perfection. There were mixed 
therein the curse of a violated law and the wrath 
of a sin-avenging God, with all the pangs of the 
second death. In view of these sufferings, can 



210 SERMONS. 

we for a moment harbor the Christ-dishonoring 
thought that he will suffer any part of his purchase 
to perish. No, for he hath said, " I lay down my 
life for my sheep and they shall never perish." And 
the Father stipulated to the Son in the covenant of 
redemption, saying, "He shall see of the travail of 
his soul and shall be satisfied." And again, "He 
that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath 
eternal life, and I will raise him at the last day." 
Eemember, he that said it, hath all power in hea- 
ven and in earth. Hath he said it, and will he not 
do it ? hath he spoken it, and will he not make it 
good ? He carries the keys of death and the grave 
at his girdle, and the hour cometh when all that are 
in the grave shall come forth, they that have done 
good to the resurrection of life, and they that have 
evil unto the resurrection of damnation. 

Then shall come to pass the saying that is writ- 
ten, death is swallowed up in victory. " death, 
where is thy sting ? grave, where is thy victory ? " 
Then the sacramental host of God's elect shall come 
forth from earth and sea to meet the Lord in the 
air, and shall ever be with the Lord ; their souls and 
bodies reunited, never more to part. With palms 
of triumph in their hands and crowns of righteous- 
ness on their heads, which God the righteous Judge 
shall give to every one that loveth his appearing. 

What now, but the beginning of that song which 
shall never cease. "To him that loved us and 
washed us from our sins in his own blood." Thanks 
be unto God who giveth us the victory, through our 
Lord Jesus Christ. 



SERMONS. 211 

Religion is bleeding at every pore. The Spirit is 
quenched, and his hallowed influence is withdrawn. 
The word preached, falls between the minister's 
lips and consciences of his hearers. And the minis- 
ters of Christ weep between the porch and the al- 
tar, and cry, save thy people, Lord, and give not 
thy heritage to reproach. Lord, who hath believed 
our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord 
revealed. 

We labor with mind and body in the fall of the 
year to make, under God, some salutary impressions 
on the minds of our congregations, and just when 
we see tokens that the Lord is about to bless the 
people, the enemy of souls suggests that it is time 
to have a party for the young people. And so it 
goes, frolic after frolic, until every serious thought 
is obliterated, and those that should be the lights of 
the world are enveloped in the Devil's black man- 
tle. O that my eyes were waters and mine eyes 
fountains of tears, that I might, day and night, weep 
for the destruction of the daughter of my people. 
Young people of both sexes are hereby warned and 
exhorted to be sober-minded. In reviewing the 
scenes of the two last winters, it is melancholy to 
think of the sacrifice of health and morals which 
has been made around us. And time will soon dis- 
close how many fair maidens, by those nightly dis- 
sipations, have imbibed into their delicate systems 
the seeds of mortal diseases which will soon lay 
them in early graves ; or if they should linger awhile 
on earth, it will be only to prove that neither male 



212 SERMONS. 

nor female can violate the law of their physical 
nature with impunity. Young men and maidens 
be sober-minded. Lament before God your past 
folly, and seek forgiveness, if, peradventure, God 
may ward off the fruit of your doing that you 
perish not. 



SERMON XI 



THE GOSPEL BALM— THE DIVINE HEALER. 

" Is there no bairn in Gilead ? Is there no physician there ? Why then is not 
the health of the daughter of my people recovered ? "— Jekejiiah 8 : 22." 

The state of the Jews was truly deplorable. 
They had departed from God and God had aban- 
doned them to the will of their enemies, who were 
collecting forces for the utter destruction of their 
strong places and the reduction of the people to a 
state of abject servitude. The Prophet declared 
that the cause of their calamity was sin — the sin of 
forsaking God and serving idols. Their sin was 
their malady. The Prophet showed them the rem- 
edy, and urged them, with tears, to use it for their 
recovery, but they rejected it with disdain. The 
man of God expostulated with them in the words of 
the text — " Is there no balm in Gilead ? Is there no 
physician there ? Why then is not the health of 
the daughter of my people recovered ? " Let me 
endeavor to explain the terms used in the text. 
Gilead was a province of the land of promise, noted 
for the production of a certain gum called the balm 
of Gilead, having medical qualities famed as a sover- 



214 SERMONS. 

eign remedy in all lands. Hence, when Jacob sent 
his sons to Egypt for food, a second time, lie caused 
them to take a present to conciliate the governor of 
the land, and among the articles he mentioned " a 
little balm," knowing the high esteem in which the 
Egyptians held it. The term " physician " is well 
understood. " Daughter " is used in Scripture to 
denote a nation. We read of f6 the daughter of 
Babylon," " the daughter of Edom," " the daughter 
of Zion." Nations have, from time immemorial, 
been figuratively represented by beautiful females. 
The phrase " daughter of my people," as used here, 
means the Prophet's own nation — the people to 
whom he preached repentance, and over whose im- 
penitence he wept. Observe that the text is made^ 
up of three questions. Interrogations are used to 
show the impossibility of a thing. "Hast thou an 
arm like God ? Canst thou thunder with a voice 
like him?" The answer suggested is "no." But 
questions are used to affirm things. The text is an 
example in the first two particulars. There was an 
abundance of balm in Gilead for all the sick in the 
land, and it was well known that there were physi- 
cians there skillful in its application. The last ques- 
tion calls for information. " Why, then is not the 
health of the daughter of my people recovered?" 
In speaking from the text, I shall change the 
phraseology, but not the sense. 

I. Is there no grace in the Gospel f 

II. Is there no physician there f 

HI. Why then are sinners not saved f 



SERMONS. 215 

I. IS THERE NO GRACE IN THE GOSPEL ? 

What is grace ? It is a free unmerited gift; a free 
favor conferred on 'the unworthy; life to those who 
deserve death; God's expression of love to the un- 
lovely. This is love, not that we loved God, but 
that he loved us, and gave his son to be a propitia- 
tion for our sins. The gospel is emphatically the 
gospel of the grace of God. Here is exhibited the 
clearest discovery of the favor of the living God to 
dying men. Under the old dispensation the grace 
of God glimmered faintly upon man, as the star- 
light upon the benighted traveler; but the rising of 
the morning star in the person and ministry of John 
the Baptist, announced to the dark world the near- 
ness of the Sun of Righteousness, whose beams 
should dispel the gloom of ages, and usher in the 
clear, unclouded clay of grace. If the angels shout- 
ed for joy when the divine architect laid the corner- 
stone of creation, more exuberant was their joy 
when they saw the same hand lay in Zion, for a 
foundation, the chief corner-stone of the temple of 
grace. We have no record of their hymn on the 
first occasion, but when we go home we shall read 
it in the annals of eternity. A copy of the Bethle- 
hem anthem has been left on earth for all who are 
interested in the theme. " Glory to God in the 
highest, on earth peace, good will toward men." 
From this specimen of angelic composition, we may 
learn what system of divinity is taught above. In 
Heaven Christ is all in all; the Alpha and the 
Omega ; the first and the last. He loved first, and 



216 SERMONS. 

his attractive love sweetly draws trie hearts of sin- 
ners to love him in return. "With everlasting 
love have I loved thee, therefore with loving kind- 
ness have I drawn thee." Grace makes the Gospel 
what it is — glad tidings of great joy. Take away 
grace and it would cease to be glad tidings to the 
convicted, condemned sinner. It would be taking 
the moral sun from the heavens. Darkness and 
despair would envelope the race. There would be 
only a fearful looking-for of judgment and fiery in- 
dignation. The gospel exhibits to us the living 
fountain of grace, opened to wash away sin and un- 
cleanness. Revealed grace is sovereign; not con- 
ferred on account of any actual worthiness in the 
creature or meritorious disposition foreseen. Either 
of these would change its nature — would dethrone 
its sovereignty and annihilate its essence. It would 
be no more a gift but a debt, presenting no motive 
for gratitude or humility, but fostering the native 
pride of the human heart. Away with such a 
theory, so dishonoring to God, so ruinous to men. 
Listen to the proclamation of the God of all grace : 
"I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy 
and I will have compassion on whom I will have 
compassion." So then it is not of him that willeth, 
nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth 
mercy. Though it is not of him that willeth, yet 
the blessing is to him that willeth and runneth, for 
the good reason that it is God who worketh in us 
both to will and to do. 0, my friends, as there was 
balm in Gilead so is there grace in the gospel. 



SERMONS. 217 

Herein the love of God was manifested. " God so 
loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, 
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish 
but have everlasting life." " The word was made 
flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, 
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full 
of grace and truth." As we are full of sin we need 
a Saviour full of grace, that out of his fullness we 
may receive grace to help in time of need. Grace 
to convince of sin, to repent, to deny self, and take 
up the cross — grace to believe. By grace are ye 
saved through, faith, and that not of yourselves ; it is 
the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should 
boast. By grace the believer is justified freely 
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 
whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, 
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteous- 
ness for the remission of sins that are past, through 
the forbearance of God. Grace to heal, to renew, 
to sanctity, to persevere, and to crown all with glory ! 
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift ! 

II. Is THERE NOT A PHYSICIAN THERE ? 

The gospel is a general advertisement of the sov- 
ereign balm, and the power and skill of Jesus, the 
great Physician, to heal all the moral diseases of 
men. The malady broke out in Eden, and it has 
been raging ever since. ~Ho one has escaped the 
contagion except the Physician. He is holy, harm- 
less, undefiled, separated from sinners. He spent 
years in the great hospital, going from one sick bed 



218 . SERMONS. 

to another, saying, " Wilt thou be made whole ? " 
And when many refused, he reluctantly turned 
away and wept, saying, " 0, that thou hadst known 
in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace ; 
but now they are hidden from thy eyes." 

"Did Christ o'er sinners weep, 
And shall our cheeks be dry ?" 

Jesus has agents in every city of our land, who 
proclaim his power to save, teaching that it is a 
faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that 
Jesus came to the world to save sinners, and that 
he is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto 
God by him. Alas, how few listen with the fixed 
attention which the subject demands! Multitudes 
turn a deaf ear to the proclamation, saying, " We 
do not need his service." They think they are 
whole and have no need of a physician. They be- 
long to that ancient race who judged themselves 
righteous and despised others. Their hearts are 
blinded by the god of this world — the spirit that 
now worketh in the children of disobedience. If 
at any time they are alarmed, in view of the wages 
of sin, Satan administers an opiate, to lull the con- 
science and benumb the feelings. So they fall 
asleep, slight the good physician and perish in their 
sin. 

Let us dwell a little while on some of Christ's 
qualities as a physician. He is always within call. 
He says to every patient, call upon me in the day of 
trouble, and I will hear thee and deliver thee out of 



SERMONS. 21 9 

all thy distress. Therefore, let uot the sinner say 
in his heart, " Who shall ascend into Heaven to 
bring Christ down from above ? " He is near thee, 
watching aronnd thy heart ; and when he sees any 
breaking down, he is ready to apply the healing 
bairn to thy wounded spirit. He shoived no partiality. 
He is as ready to attend the poor as the rich, yet the 
Lord hath respect to the humble, but the proud he 
knoweth afar off. He looks with peculiar sympa- 
thy upon a broken heart. He carries with him 
plenty of bandages to bind it up. These were pre- 
pared in the garden and dipped in his blood, when 
he cried on the cross, "It is finished." They are 
bands of love. Aged christians, you still remem- 
ber, after so many years, how those bands soothed 
your sorrow, how the balm softened and melted 
your old heart, and made it entirely new ? You, 
like myself, tried hard and long to patch up the old 
heart and make it do, too proud and independent to 
call upon the great Physician. You remember how 
you took your heart to Moses to be healed; and I 
am sure you have not forgotten how he frowned 
upon you and grasped your heart with his ten iron 
fingers, and turned it quite inside out, before your 
eyes ? 0, what a sight! Nothing but corruption, 
wormwood, and gall! Then your former hope fled, 
and grim despair spread his sable -Rings over your 
prospect. You lifted your eyes heavenward, and 
then you discerned a holy God, a consuming fire to 
your soul. Your faithless eye could see no media- 
tor standing between you and your offended sover- 






220 



SERMONS. 



eign; no atoning blood to appease his naming 
wrath. Hell, from beneath, opened wide its vora- 
cious jaws to receive you. Then you smote on 
your breast and cried " God be merciful to me a 
sinner." "Lord Jesus save me, I perish." The 
great Physician heard you cry — your misery touched 
his heart. Behold he cometh, he cometh, leaping 
over the mountains of your transgressions; skip- 
ping over the hills of your lesser sins, holding in 
his hand 

11 The sovereign balm, whose virtues can 
Restore the ruined creature, man." 

As the balm of grace is free, so is the service of the 
good Physician. Here is his announcement. " Ho ! 
every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and 
he that hath no money, come ye, buy without money 
and without price. If any man thirst let him come 
unto me and drink. Him that cometh unto me I 
will in no wise cast out." 

He expostulates with sinners who refuse his aid. 
He says, why will ye die when life and health are 
so easily secured. " Believe in the Lord Jesus 
Christ and thou shalt be saved." The freeness of 
the remedy will surely, surely aggravate the con- 
demnation of all who reject it, for "How can we 
escape if we neglect so great salvation ? " 

IH. The last question is eor information. 
" Why then is not the health of the daughter of my 
people recovered ? " "Why are not sinners saved ? " 
The gospel exhibits a specific remedy, and a match- 



BSRMOHB. 221 

. n at hand, and perfectly free. TTellniay 
we repeat the question with profound astonishment, 
"Why are sinners not saved*?"'" I answer negative- 
ly. It is not because you have not heard the gospel 
that you are unhealed. I am not speaking to a 
heathen people, hut I am addressing those who 
from childhood have enjoyed opportunities to read 
and hear the glorious message of salvation. 

God, in his word, tells you. that he means you as 
clearly as if there were no other person in the world 
but yourself : he charge* with sins of deepest 

dye : you may not put the charge from yourself 
upon another, for he say?. •• Thau art the man.' 3 He 
has sent his servants to claim yotu ::: ration to sub- 
jects the most momentous. They have told you 
that your whole head is sick and the whole heart 
faint, neither is there any soundness in you : that 
your malady is mortal. They have demonstrated 
to you the facts so that you could not deny them ; 
yes. they have often told you from the month of 
God. that Christ only, whom they preach to you, 
can do you good. There is salvation in no other ; 
neglect him and you perish. They teach you what 
is necessary to salvation ; believe in the Lord Jt 
Christ and thou shalt be saved. Belief in Christ is 
the main spring in the heart which puts every 
christian duty in motion. Say not in thy heart, 
poor dying sinner, that the terms of the gospel are 
too simple and easy. God has established the de- 
cree that he that believeth shall be saved, and he 
that believeth not shall be damned. Let me reason 



222 SERMONS. 

with you, my friend, as the servants of Kaaman did 
with their master. If the Lord had commanded 
you to do some great thing, would you not have done 
it ? How much rather then when he says believe 
on the Son of God and be saved. Try the prescrip- 
tion of God as the Syrian did, and like him you 
will be healed. 

It is not because the subject has not been seriously and 
affectionately pressed upon you. Your Pastor has often 
besought you with tears to be reconciled to God. 

It is not on account of unwillingness in God, for his 
word declares "God is not willing that any should 
perish, but that all should come to the knowledge 
of the truth." Do you still doubt God's willing- 
ness? Listen, for our Creator certifies the fact 
with an oath, "As Hive, saith the Lord, I have no 
pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the 
wicked turn from his wicked way and live." "Turn 
ye, turn ye, why will ye die, 0, house of Israel." 

Positively — The cause is in sinners themselves. 
"Because I have called and ye refused; I have 
stretched forth my hands and no man regarded, but 
ye have set at nought all my counsel and would 
none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your cala- 
mity; I will mock when your fear cometh." "For 
if they escaped not who refused him who spake on 
earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn 
away from him who speaketh from heaven." The 
refusal of Christ and his salvation plainly implies 
that they have been presented. To refuse Christ, is 
to set him at nought — to undervalue the love and 



SERMONS. 223 

gift of God — to love sin more than God. This 
reason why you are not saved, O, impenitent man, 
is obvious to you ; you know in your heart and con- 
science that God has called you "by his word, and 
you know equally well that you have refused. 

The sin-stricken do not love the way of salvation, 
because it requires self-denial and mortification of 
the flesh. Paul uses strong expressive terms : "De- 
spisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbear- 
ance and long suffering, not knowing that the good- 
ness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" They 
despise the remedy, therefore they are not saved. 
They love sin more than salvation. Jesus says, " Ye 
will not come to me that ye may have life." " This 
is the condemnation that light is come into the 
world, and men love darkness rather than light, be- 
cause their deeds are evil." 0, sirs, look at your 
position : on one side see life and peace, on the 
other death and woe. Hitherto you have loved 
death and rejected life. 

"Why will yon in your crooked ways 
Of Bin and folly go ? 
In pain you travail all your days 

To reap immortal woe, 
But he who turns to God shall live 

Through his abounding grace ; 
He will the richest blessings give 
v To those who seek his face." 

"See, I have set before thee this day life and 
good, death and evil." Choose life that thou may'st 
live. Why will ye die ? There is a balm in Gil- 
ead ; there is a Physician there. Jesus is passing 



224 SERMONS. 

by, and says to every sin-sick soul, "Wilt thou be 
be made whole ?" Come now and be healed. 



1 There is a kind Physician near, 
Look up, O fainting soul, and live ; 
See in his heavenly smiles appear, 
Such help as nature cannot give. 
See in the Saviour's dying hlood, 

Life, health, and hliss abundant flow : 
'Tis only that dear, sacred flood 
Can ease thy pain, and heal thy woe." 



SERMON XII 



JOSEPH A TYPE OE CHEIST. 

" Go unto Joseph, and what he saith unto you, do."— Gen. 41 : 55. 

These were the words of Pharaoh to those that 
cried unto him for bread. The king had given all 
the management into the hands of Joseph. The 
stores and all their contents were at his disposal, 
and who more wise and prudent to dispose of the 
ample supplies which he had laid up against the 
time of need ? 

God designed in the fullness of time to send his 
Son into the world to save sinners from spiritual 
starvation, and appointed in his divine mind that 
men should be saved through faith in the coming 
Messiah. " Whosoever believeth on him shall not 
perish, but shall have eternal life." In order to be- 
lieve in Christ, he must be known, either by sight 
or by report. The scripture saith, "Whosoever 
believeth on him, shall not be ashamed." The 
apostle reasons most conclusively on the subject. 
How can they call on him in whom they have not 
believed ? And how shall they believe in him of 
whom they have not heard ? And how shall they 



226 SERMONS. 

hear without a preacher ? And how shall they preach 
except they be sent? It is impossible to believe in 
an object of whom we have not heard, and G-od is 
not unjust to require of us impossibilities. Those 
who have never heard the G-ospel will not be con- 
demned for not believing that which they have 
never heard ; but they will be judged according to 
that law, which is written upon the heart and con- 
science of every human being who has arrived at 
years of understanding. God from the beginning 
instituted means to teach the children of men the 
knowledge of the Saviour before his advent into 
the world, that they might believe in him prior to 
his coming, and also when he should come in the 
flesh, they might recognize him as the Son of God 
and the Saviour of men. And in case they would 
reject him, they would be without excuse ; for a 
full description of him had been given, by the early 
patriarchs, by Moses and all the prophets. His 
descent was clearly predicted through Abraham, 
Isaac, and Israel; and then through the tribe of 
Judah and the illustrious house of David, down to 
the Virgin mother. Bethlehem, the place of his 
birth, and Nazareth, where he grew to manhood ; 
and Capernaum, where he opened his great com- 
mission by preaching the gospel of the kingdom of 
heaven, are all mentioned. John the Baptist, his 
fore-runner, who, like the star of the morning, by his 
holy life and burning eloquence, shed a flood of light 
o'er Judah's benighted land, is also pointed out. 
This John was the messenger of God, going be- 



SERMONS. 227 

fore the face of his anointed to prepare his way ; 
who, with holy boldness, and a voice above human, 
announced to a sleeping world, that the long pre- 
dicted day was breaking, that the shadows were dis- 
persing, and the Sun of Righteousness was rising, 
diffusing salvation with his beams on all who should 
come to his light. The holy life of Jesus was also 
foretold. The meekness of his spirit, the compas- 
sion of his heart, the ardor of his zeal for the glory 
of G-od and the best interest of men, his persever- 
ing diligence in the work which his Father gave 
him to do. "He shall not faint nor be discouraged, 
said the prophet, until he shall bring forth judgment 
into victory, and the Isles shall wait for his law." 

The sufferings and death of the Son of God were 
as graphically described, by the holy prophets, as if 
the whole scene of his sorrow and sufferings were 
passing before their vision, and also the objects for 
whom he should suffer and die. "He was wounded 
(said Isaiah) for our transgressions : he was bruised 
for our iniquities, and the chastisement of our peace 
was laid upon him, and through his stripes we are 
healed." On what parts of his sacred body were 
those wounds chiefly inflicted? The Prophet, 
looking on the wounded Jesus through the mist of 
ages, and seeing his hands and his feet lacerated 
with cruel nails, inquired, "What are these wounds 
in thy hands and in thy feet?" He answered, 
"These are the wounds, wherewith I was wounded 
in the house of my friends," (his Jewish kindred 
according to the flesh.) His wounded side was also 



228 SEKMONS. 

foretold, " They shall look on him whom they have 
pierced." 

Here, my beloved friends, is a prophetic likeness, 
drawn by different hands, at different times, and in 
places far remote from each other, and yet when the 
parts are collected on the inspired page they form a 
perfect likeness of one, and only one ; the descrip- 
tion will apply to no other. The Prophets were 
transported with the beauty of his person and 
character, as they held the pencil of inspiration 
in their hands, and received the colors from the 
skies ; yet such were the excellency and moral 
beauty of the original that it was rendered impossi- 
ble for them to flatter or exceed, Nay, they confessed 
their inability to come up to the divine pattern. 
Who can declare all his praise ? And when asked, 
" What is thy beloved more than another beloved ?" 
The church, in her answer, went as far as the limits 
of human language could allow her, "My beloved 
is white and ruddy, he is the chiefest among ten 
thousand; he is altogether lovely." She made a 
vigorous attempt, yet she failed to show forth all 
his praise. 

My beloved hearers, does this small sketch ex- 
cite your desire to see the original? If you are in 
earnest, I will tell you the way: "Lay aside every 
weight and the sin that so easy besets you, and run 
with patience the race that is set before you, look- 
ing unto Jesus." Follow this course, and you shall 
soon see him as he is, and be like him. 

There were two other methods by which Jesus 



SERMONS. 229 

Christ was described under the Old Testament by 
typical things and typical persons, and one of these 
last was Joseph. A person who has read the life of 
Jesus and then reads the life of Joseph, is forcibly 
struck with the strong resemblance between the 
two. Joseph's name signifies increase. John, speak- 
ing of himself, said, I must decrease; but he (that 
is Christ) shall increase. And the Evangelist said, 
that the child Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, 
and in favor with God and man. The Prophet 
Isaiah, when speaking of his humiliation, and his 
succeeding glory, says, " For unto us a child is born; 
unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be 
on his shoulder; and his name shall be called 
"Wonderful — Counsellor, the mighty God, the ever- 
lasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the in- 
crease of his government and peace there shall be 
no end." As the family of Joseph increased and 
multiplied in the land of Egypt, so the family (or 
church of Christ) increased from a small beginning 
to a multitude, which no man can number, and will 
go on increasing until he shall see of the travail of 
his soul, and be satisfied. Joseph was tenderly 
loved of his Father. His brethren observing thi3 
were moved with envy against him, and laid schemes 
for his destruction. Joseph foretold, in the presence 
of his brethren, his future exaltation and glory. 
And his brethren, when they heard him relating 
his prophetic dreams, with innocent simplicity, 
hated him the more, and said unto him (with sneer- 
ing scorn,) "Shall thou indeed reign over us ?" 
10 



230 SERMONS. 

Jesus loved, and was loved of his heavenly Father, 
who declared, from his excellent glory, " This is my 
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye 
him." And also when Jesus had risen from Jordan's 
baptismal stream, as from the emblems of his future 
grave, "Lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and 
he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, 
and lighting upon him." "And, lo! a voice from 
heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I 
am well pleased." 

The more Jesus was distinguished as the object 
of his Father's love, the more his brethren, the 
Jews, hated him. But as in the case of Joseph, so 
also in the case of Jesus — they hated him without a 
cause. 

Joseph's father sent him to a distant part of the 
country, to seek the welfare of his brethren. " And 
Israel said unto Joseph, do not thy brethren feed 
the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send 
thee unto them. And he said unto him, here am 
I." Notice here, Joseph's ready obedience to his 
father's will — he hesitated not a moment. Here am 
I ; though the journey was long and dreary, yet he 
was prompt in obeying his father's will. "When we 
sinners had wandered far from our father's house, 
the sovereign love of God induced him to pity our 
condition and send us succor. But who shall under- 
take the journey ? The inquiry rang through the 
realms of light, Who will go for us ? and whom 
shall we send? The harps of gold ceased to sound, 
and deep silence reigned through all the angelic 



SERMONS. 231 

throng. Now the voice of the second person in the 
glorious unity of the Godhead breaks the silence. 
" Here am 1/ ' send me. A new anthem is sung. 
"Help is laid on one that is mighty, for his mercy 
endureth forever." 

Joseph knew not the toils, the sorrows and the 
suffering that this journey of benevolence would 
cost him. No, he knew not that his brethren would 
conspire against him and sell him to the Ishmaelites. 
But Jesus knew all the difficulties that he would 
have to encounter in his mission of mercy to our 
guilty world. He knew what was in the hearts of 
men. He knew that when he would come, there 
would be none to receive him, and when he would 
speak, there would be none to answer him, and that 
his own kindred, according to the flesh, would re- 
ject him and set him at nought. He knew that he 
would have to encounter the envy of men, the 
malice of hell, and the impending curse of a vio- 
lated law, and make bare his bosom to the burning 
arrows of offended justice, when standing in the 
transgressor's place. " For he was wounded for our 
transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities." O, 
my brethren, 

" This was compassion like a God, 
That when the Saviour knew 
The price of pardon was his hlood, 
His pity ne'er withdrew." 

Joseph's brethren, when they saw him afar off, 
conspired against him to slay him, and we shall see, 
said they, what will become of his dreams. The 



232 SERMONS. 

dreams of Joseph predicted his future eminence, 
and their dependence on his bounties, which was 
most annoying to the pride of their carnal hearts, 
and they were determined to frustrate their accom- 
plishment by putting their innocent brother to 
death. There are many devices in the hearts of 
men ; but the counsel of God — that will stand, as the 
sequel of Joseph's history will clearly show. Jesus 
Christ, our spiritual Joseph, foretold the Jews of 
his future glory. And the high priest said unto 
him, "Art thou the Christ, the Son of the blessed?" 
And Jesus said, " I am, and ye shall see the Son 
of man sitting on the right hand of power, and 
coming on the clouds of heaven. Then the high 
priest rent his clothes, and said, what need we any 
further witness, and they all condemned him to be 
guilty of death." 

And when they had crucified him, they thought 
they had frustrated his predictions, and in the pride 
of their supposed triumph, they tauntingly said, 
"Let Christ, the King of Israel, come down now 
from the cross that we may see and believe." Soon, 
very soon, they discovered themselves completely 
foiled in their purpose, and that Jesus had taken the 
way of the cross to reach the crown, and what they 
had done by wicked hands, was overruled by the 
all-wise God to bring about the purpose of his love 
in the salvation of his chosen. As Simon Peter 
told them soon after, "Him being delivered by the 
determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, 
ye have taken, and by wicked hands, have crucified 



SERMONS. 233 

and slain." This was, as in the case of Joseph, 
who said to his brethren, "But as for you, ye 
thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, 
to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much peo- 
ple alive." Again, Joseph was sold into the hands of 
strangers. His brother Judah was the principal 
mover in the base transaction. Judas, one of the 
twelve, both bearing the same name, sold our spirit- 
ual Joseph for thirty pieces of silver into the hands 
of the chief priests. Joseph was carried by the Ish- 
maelites to Egypt and sold for a slave. How dark 
were his prospects ; far from his father's house and 
the land of his nativity. How different his circum- 
stances from what his prophetic dreams might have 
encouraged him to hope. The ways of Providence 
are dark and mysterious. 

"Deep in unfathomable mines, 
Of never-failing skill, 
He treasures up his wise designs, 
And works his sovereign will." 

Clouds and darkness are round about him, yet 
justice and judgment are the habitation of his 
throne. IS"one, however pious, are free from tempta- 
tion and sorrow, for Jesus told us no less. " In the 
world, ye shall have tribulation, but be of good 
cheer ; I have overcome the world." So Joseph was 
not comfortless in his afflictions, for God was with 
him. He was falsely accused and cast into prison. 
He could bear it, for God was with him. The wheel 
of providence, in its mysterious revolutions, carried 
him down — down into the deepest gloom of ad- 



234 



SEEMONS. 



versity. But Joseph clung to the wheel. Like his 
father, Jacob, "I will not let thee go until thou 
bless me." 

Now we see Joseph beginning to rise in a way 
which no human foresight could have discovered. 
Two of Pharaoh's officers offended their lord, and 
they were cast into the prison where Joseph was. 
By this time, Joseph, by his good conduct, had 
gained the confidence of the keeper, and he put the 
two officers under his care. One morning Joseph 
discovered their countenances sad, and he kindly 
inquired the cause of their sorrow, and found that 
their dreams of the previous night troubled them. 
They told their dreams, and Joseph interpreted 
them. The butler was restored to his office and 
favor, and the baker was hung on a tree. This may 
remind us of the two malefactors who suffered with 
Jesus on Calvary ; one was saved, and the other 
perished. 

Two years after this, Pharaoh had dreams which 
none of his wise men could interpret. The chief 
butler was smitten with remorse for his ingratitude 
to Joseph, who, after he interpreted his dream, told 
him when he was leaving the prison for the palace, 
"When it is well with thee, remember me, and 
make mention of me unto Pharaoh." But he re- 
membered him not. Now, he said unto Pharaoh, 
"I do remember my faults this day," and related to 
the king how Joseph interpreted his dream, and 
that of his fellow in the prison, which in both cases 
were verified. The king sent and brought Joseph out 



SERMONS. 235 

of the dungeon, to whom he told his dreams, which 
Joseph interpreted as predicting seven years of 
famine, after seven years of great plenty. Pharaoh, 
with the concurrence of all his servants, appointed 
Joseph governor over all the land, to lay corn in 
store, during the plentiful years, against the famine 
that should succeed. 

In due time the famine began to he felt, and the 
people cried unto Pharaoh for bread, to whom he 
said, " Go unto Joseph, and what he saith to you, 
do." Christ is the great provider for the wants of 
a perishing world. God has committed all things 
into his hands. It hath pleased the Father that in 
him all fullness should dwell ; that we starving sin- 
ners should receive out of his fullness, and grace 
for grace. Yet many, very many are insensible of 
their pressing need. Thou knowest not that thou 
art poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked. O, 
that men did but feel their abject poverty, and cry 
for the bread of life. Plow joyful the news to the 
family of Jacob when they heard that there was 
corn in Egypt. Jacob said to his sons, " I have 
heard that there is corn in Egypt." " Why do ye 
look one upon another?" Get you down thither 
and buy for us from thence, that we may live and 
not die. The men were looking on the wasting 
forms of their wives and children, and every day 
the features of death became more and more dis- 
tinct in every face. Hope, that buoys up the soul 
in adversity, Was gasping for breath, when the news 
came " There is corn in Egypt." Joy and activity 



236 SERMONS. 

were diffused through the whole household. The 
mothers looked on their children and wept for joy, 
and said to each other, " Our darlings may yet live 
and not die." The men running as fast as their 
emaciated limbs could carry them brought home the 
asses, which had wandered along the broods to 
brouse something green to sustain life ; while the 
women were collecting the sacks which had long 
been empty, and putting them in order for the 
journey ; and the aged patriarch, with trembling 
hands, was weighing the silver, and tying it up in 
ten bundles. No time to lose ; starvation was com- 
ing upon them with rapid strides. See! the ten 
brothers are ready to start The gray-headed father, 
surrounded by the women and children, with his 
eyes, hands and heart lifted up to heaven, says, 
God Almighty give you mercy before the man. 
Here you see a company of starving men on their 
way to Joseph for bread. Where are you, hungry 
poor ? Where are you, starving souls ? Are you on 
your way to Jesus for the bread of life ? Why do 
you loiter? Why do you look one at another? 
that will not relieve you. Look to Jesus, where 
only relief is found. If you had not lingered you 
might be rejoicing to-day in hope of the glory of 
God, and " telling sinners round what a dear Saviour 
you have found ; pointing to his redeeming blood, 
and say, Behold your way to God." 

Famine is doing its work while you are linger- 
ing. Death, while you are hesitating, is winding 
up the thread of your life. The thread is brittle, it 



SERMONS. 237 

may break before -the morrow's sun, and the ball of 
your life be tossed up to the judgment seat of Christ. 
Some two years ago, whole families, like that of 
Jacob, felt their pinching want, and went in com- 
panies to the stores of our spiritual Joseph, and 
found there ample supplies. Others felt some 
pangs of hunger, but instead of going to Jesus for 
bread, they went to sleep, to appease their hunger 
by lying dormant. They dosed their crying con- 
sciences with the opium of formality, and thus 
stifled their convictions. To these I would cry, 
"Awake, awake thou that sleepest, and arise from 
the dead, lest ye sleep the sleep of death." Is there 
here to-day one family who will arise and go to 
Jesus for bread, that they may live and not die ? 
The sons of Jacob took each man his sack ; but all 
were empty. They took them to be filled out of 
the stores of Joseph. They would have cut a strange 
figure indeed if they had gone with grain in their 
sacks, under the pretence of famine ; that very fact 
would have proved their pretensions false, and 
Joseph, with a stern countenance, would have spurn- 
ed them from his stores, and said to them, Go 
back, ye hypocrites, I have no corn for such as you ; 
my stores of corn were laid up for the starving 
poor, and those only that are reduced to the last ex- 
tremity. Then he would turn to others, who stood 
trembling at the door, each with his empty sack on 
his arm, pale with hunger, and wishfully looking 
at the yellow grain rolling down the towering heaps 
at Joseph's feet, more desirable to these than Cali- 



238 



SERMONS. 



fornia's shining dust, or G-olgonda's brilliant gems. 
To these lie would say, his face beaming with benevo- 
lence, and in each eye a tear, speaking in tones of 
tenderness, "Come near me, ye poor starving crea- 
tures, open your sacks wide, and I will fill them, 
that ye may live, and not die." The application of 
the foregoing is easy to every one taught of God in 
the school of christian experience. You, my breth- 
ren, have been applying it all along, to the time 
you came to Jesus with a poor, broken, empty 
heart, to be filled with that bread, of which, if a 
man eat, he shall never die. 

Come, fellow sinner, and examine your store, and 
see what you have against the time to come. Let 
not your heart deceive you with her flattery, that 
you are rich and have need of nothing. Be con- 
vinced of your abject poverty, and apply for mercy 
while the door is yet open, and the Saviour on the 
giving hand, saying, 

" Come ye sinner, poor and needy, 
Weak and wounded, sick and sore, 
Jesus ready stands to save you, 
Full of pity, love and power." 

Now, despairing sinner, "Behold the Lamb of 
God, that taketh away the sin of the world." Be- 
lieve in him, and you shall not perish. Trust in 
him, and you shall not be ashamed. Lean on his 
arm, and so come up out of the wilderness. Come, 
sinner, come to our spiritual Joseph, his stores are 
full ; he himself invites ; come, hungry, to be fed ; 
come, empty, to be filled ; come, poor, to be enrich- 



SERMONS. 239 

ed ; come, naked, to be clothed with the robes of 
salvation. 

When the world was dying for want of bread, 
the key of life was hanging at Joseph's girdle ; to 
him, and to him only, all had to go or starve. 

Jesus only has eternal life to impart. There is 
salvation in none other, nor another name given 
under heaven among men whereby we must be 
saved. "Why do ye look one on another and linger 
and die ? How long halt ye between two opinions? 
If ye go at all, you must go quickly. Death is on 
his way to summon you to the judgment seat. And 
pray, what preparations have you made against the 
day of trial? Have you a competent witness to 
testify in your behalf? Can you say, like the hum- 
ble and faithful christian, "The Spirit beareth wit- 
ness with my spirit that I am born of God." Have 
you an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the 
righteous. ? 

There is no time to lose. Why then do you lin- 
ger? The wife saith, "I wait for my husband, I 
wish him to come along." "No doubt it would be 
very pleasant for you to go hand in hand in the way 
that leads to life. But that is not a sufficient ex- 
cuse for you to linger. Tell him that Jesus calls 
you, and that yon must obey. Tell your partner, 
there is room in your Father's house for him also. 
And thus your faithfulness may, under God, win 
his heart to follow her, who follows her Lord, as 
Mercy followed Christiana, who had kindly invited 
her to go on the pilgrimage. The sons of Jacob had 



240 SERMONS. 

to go a long journey to reach Joseph's store. But 
Jesus is near ; his grace is near. You have only 
to give him your heart, and he will supply you with 
that bread, that if a man eat thereof, he shall never 
die. 



SERMON XIII. 



THE ONE OFFEEING. 

" So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that 
look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."— 
Heb. 9 : 28. 

All that I shall attempt will be to offer some ex- 
pository remarks on this remarkable text. It is 
remarkable for its fullness of meaning, containing, 
in few words, a summary of the whole gospel. I 
shall take the words in their order, for every word is 
emphatic, except the few that are used as connect- 
ing links, to complete the wonderful chain. I shall 
begin with the little word so. This is to connect 
the passage with the preceding verse. As it is ap- 
pointed unto men once to die and after death the 
judgment, so Christ, in like manner, was once 
offered. Christ is a Greek word, without the ter- 
mination os, and is of the same meaning as the 
Hebrew word Messiah, and both signify the An- 
ointed. There were three office-bearers in Israel, 
who were inducted into their offices by the solemn 
act of being anointed with oil. These were pro- 
phets, priests and kings. Aaron was anointed, 
to be High Priest of Israel ; but he was neither 
a prophet nor a king. Elislaa was anointed to 



242 



SERMONS. 



succeed Elijah, in the prophetic office; but no other 
dignity was thereby conferred. The Lord sent 
Samuel, at different times, to anoint both. Saul 
and David. But mark the difference : God said 
unto Samuel, take a vial of oil and anoint Saul 
to be a captain over my people ; but when he sent 
him to the house of Jesse to anoint David to be 
king over his people Israel, he took a horn of oil 
and anointed David in the midst of his brethren. 
May not this difference be significant of the quality 
of the two men and the character of their king- 
doms ? Saul's reign was like a vial — easily broken, 
and hence of short duration. But that of David 
was strong and powerful — destined to endure as 
long as the sun in the hands of David's great an- 
ointed Son Jesus Christ. "We remark here, that 
no one of those typical persons was anointed to 
the three sacred offices. This honor was reserved 
for him of whom it was said, " God, even thy God, 
hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above 
thy fellows." The holy anointing oil was a com- 
pound of sweet spices and oil olive. It was em- 
blematic of the sweet and sanctifying influences of 
the Holy Spirit. It was death, by the law of Moses, 
to counterfeit it. The precious ointment was used 
plentifully at the consecration of Aaron. David, 
in extolling the beauty and sweet fragrance of bro- 
therly love, alluded to it, when he sung — " How 
good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell 
together in unity. It is like the precious ointment 
upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even 



SERMONS. 243 

Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirt of his 
garments. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dews 
that descended npon the mountain of Zion. For 
there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life 
for evermore." 

The Holy Spirit was shed in rich profusion on 
the head of the Holy Jesus. For he, whom God 
hath sent, speaketh the words of God; for God 
giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The 
order of time, that Jesus took upon himself the 
different offices, is worthy of our notice. He was 
anointed to the prophetic office at his baptism, 
when he arose from the waters of Jordan, " And 
lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and the 
Spirit, like a dove, descended upon him, and there 
came a voice from heaven, saying, thou art my be- 
loved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 

Take notice: From that time Jesus began to 
preach and to say, "repent; for the kingdom of 
heaven is at hand." He came to Nazareth, where 
he read in the synagogue his divine commission to 
the prophetic office. " The Spirit of the Lord is 
upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach 
the gospel to the poor ; he hath sent me to heal the 
broken-hearted ; to preach deliverance to the cap- 
tives, and the recovering of sight to the blind ; to 
set at liberty them that are bruised." The princi- 
pal work of a prophet was to preach, or to proclaim 
the will and word of God as it relates to the past, 
present, and future. Thus, Jesus was engaged in 
his prophetic character, during his ministry here, 



244 



SERMONS. 



upon the earth. And in no instance did he intrude 
on the priestly or kingly offices until the appointed 
time. The first official act of a priest was to offer 
sacrifice. While Christ was on earth he could not 
be a priest, for he belonged to another tribe, of 
which Moses said nothing concerning the priest- 
hood. Therefore, Jesus assumed not his priesthood 
until the hour came, when he was raised up from 
the earth, on the high altar of the fatal cross. And 
there he had somewhat to offer, which was himself, 
which he offered unto God, as a lamb without blem- 
ish and without spot; an offering and a sacrifice of 
sweet-smelling savor unto God. On the cross he 
restored to the divine law that honor which he took 
not away, and pacified offended justice, that God 
might be just, and the justifier of all them that be- 
lieve in Jesus. 

Christ assumed the regal office on the morning 
of the resurrection, when he was manifested to be 
the Son of God, with power, according to the Spirit 
of holiness, by his resurrection from the dead. As 
it is written in the second psalm, where God, by the 
mouth of David, speaks of the resurrection of 
Christ, saying, "Yet have I set my king upon my 
holy hill of Sion. I will declare the decree. The 
Lord said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day 
have I begotten thee." This he said of his resur- 
rection and his exaltation to the throne of universal 
dominion. On the morning of the first day of the 
week he began, as a king, his conquests. Death 
himself stood as a sentinel at the tomb of his illus- 



SERMONS. 245 

trious prisoner. Death could not trust the Soman 
guard alone, being apprehensive of some mysteri- 
ous power dwelling in the man of Nazareth. But 
when the hour of his coronation came, life descended 
into the tomb ; the earth felt the shock ; her heart 
trembled by the fright; the keepers fell to the 
ground, as dead men. Jesus awoke from the sleep 
of death, like a giant refreshed, seized the monster 
in his den, wrenched from its very roots his sting, 
and rendered it forever powerless to harm them for 
whom he died, rose and triumphed. As Jesus de- 
parted from the tomb, he snatched the victory from 
the grave, and proclaimed, in act, " I am the resur- 
rection and the life." Doubtless the armies of hea- 
ven sang hosannah to God's anointed king. Sule 
thou in the midst of thine enemies, for thou must 
reign until all thy foes shall be made thy footstool. 
Again. So was Christ once offered. Here i-s con- 
descension without an equal — to take upon him 
humanity in its low estate. He that was rich, for 
our sakes become poor. He that thought it no 
robbery to claim equality with God, made himself 
of no reputation. He that occupied the middle 
throne in glory, stooped to the cross of the deepest 
woe, there to offer himself a victim in the room of 
guilty men. 

my brethren, this is love, love, love ! Thank 
God for giving us a word in our tongue so small, 
so full, and so easy to articulate. I think, some- 
times, it will be used in heaven, in connection with 
the name of Jesus. How can we do without it 



246 SERMONS. 

when we shall strike in the chorus of the redeemed 
np there — to him that loved us and washed us in his 
own blood ? 

We will proceed to the next little word — was. 
This expresses the offering being already made. 
The price being paid, the ransom of human re- 
demption is accepted; the fire is extinguished on 
the Jewish altar to be kindled no more; the sons 
of Aaron wait no longer for the men of Israel to 
bring their offerings and oblations to the House of 
God; the Jew has ceased to furnish the altar with 
victims, and unbelief prevents him from knowing 
the reason why the sacrificial services have ceased. 
The Jew could at once account for it, if he read and 
believed the little word was, in our text. So was 
Christ once offered. Lord, rend the vail from 
Israel's heart, that he may see that Messiah was 
offered; he was cut off', but not for himself. The 
atonement was made. O, Christian, rejoice that 
the great work is done. Jesus, our great High 
Priest, cried with a loud voice, " It is finished." 



'Tis done, 'tis done, 



The debt is paid, the victory is won. 
When Jesus bowed his dying head, 
The offerings ceased, the shadows fled. 1 ' 

Now let us endeavor to open the little word once, 
and see what the Holy Spirit, the comforter, has de- 
posited therein, for the refreshment of pilgrims on 
their way to Mount Sion. None can read the text 
without perceiving that the Spirit of inspiration 
laid a peculiar stress on the word once ; so was 



SERMONS. 247 

Christ once offered. Once, in this connection is de- 
signed to express the superiority of the offering of 
Christ over all legal sacrifices. They had to be re- 
peated, day after day, month after month, and year 
after year. They were only shadows of good things 
to come, but the body is of Christ; he is the sub- 
stance of them all. 

Let us, in our imagination, take a walk to the 
side of Mount Ephraim. Do you see that old 
Israelite? he is returning from Jerusalem, after 
having attended the solemnities of the annual 
atonement. Listen to his soliloquy, as he moves 
slowly up the hill; mark how dejected is his fur- 
rowed countenance, while his hand presses on his 
burdened heart, and his lips whisper forth his grief 
and disappointment. "This is the fortieth time 
I have been with my sin-offering to the altar. But, 
alas, alas ! my guilt remains a heavy load, unex- 
piated." For the law, having a shadow of good 
things to come, can never, with those sacrifices 
which they offered year by year, continually, make 
the comers thereunto perfect ; for it is not possible 
that the blood of bulls and of goats should take 
away sin, however often repeated; sin remained on 
the conscience uncancelled. But now once in the 
end of the world hath Christ appeared to put away 
sin by the sacrifice of himself. For by one offering- 
he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. 

This word, once, sets forth the immense value of 
the gift, the infinite dignity of his person ; the 
word that was made fiesh : Immanuel, God with 



248 SERMONS. 

us. "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not re- 
deemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, 
but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb 
without blemish and without spot." Thanks be 
unto God for his unspeakable gift. 

E"ow, let us take a brief view of the design of 
the Son of God in offering himself. Wise men, in 
their great undertakings, entertain great and wise 
designs, and if their projects fail, it only proves 
that all human wisdom and power are imperfect. 
But Christ is both the wisdom and power of God; 
therefore, in wisdom he laid the plan, and his power 
was able to accomplish it. "Thy Eedeemer is 
strong, the Lord of Hosts is his name, the God of 
the whole earth shall lie be called. He shall not 
fail nor be discouraged until he shall bring judg- 
ment into victory. Yea, he shall see of the travail 
of his soul and be satisfied.' 5 The design of the 
Son of God was worthy of himself and the great 
objects to be secured, even the redemption and sal- 
vation of the whole sacramental hosts of God's 
elect. 

Now we shall notice briefly the verb to bear. This 
is truly emphatic. So Christ was once offered to 
bear the sins of many. We have no sympathy with 
that Arminian dogma that Christ suffered to do 
away original sin only. The text reads sins — the 
blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. 

" And lest the shadow of a spot 
Should on my soul he fouud, 
He took the garment himself hath wrought, 
And cast it all around." 



SERMONS. 249 

This word to bear is big with, meaning; it implies 
sin to be heavy. When angels sinned it sunk them 
down beneath its ponderous weight to the depth of 
dark despair, to rise no more forever. 

Yet mortals make light of sin, and treat the 
threats of God against sin with contempt. The 
sinner now counteth the arrows of God's threaten- 
ings^as stubble, and laugheth at the shaking of his 
spear. Tremble, tremble, tremble, O sinner, lest 
God let fall the weight of thy sins upon thee; it 
will crush thee to the lowest hell. To convince 
thee, fellow sinner, of the infinite weight of sin, 
come with me for a moment to the gloomy garden 
Gethsemane; see the man of sorrows in agony in- 
expressible. Do you ask who is he ? his name is 
the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the prince 
of peace. Why is he subjected to all this pressure 
of soul and body ? He took upon him our nature 
that he might bear the weight of our sin. Go with 
him and follow him to the cross, and as you go, cry 
oh ! Lamb of God, take my sin and bear it in thine 
own body on the tree; I am now convinced that I 
cannot bear it myself, for if these things were done 
in the green tree what will be done in the dry? 

To bear the sins of many, denotes not only the 
great weight of sin, but also the almighty power 
of Christ to bear it. If all the power of men and 
angels combined were to undertake to bear the 
guilt of one sin, it would sink the whole in endless 
misery. 

Despair, then, sinner, to bear thine own sins. 



250 SERMONS. 

None but Jesus can do a helpless sinner good; there 
is salvation in none other, nor another name given 
under heaven among men, but by him we must be 
saved and have our sins borne away. The Apostle, 
in using the word to bear, doubtless alluded to a 
typical ordinance under the law of Moses. On 
the day of the great yearly atonement, two goats 
were presented to the High Priest at the door of 
the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord. 
One was slain as a sin-offering; then Aaron placed 
both his hands on the head of the living one and 
confessed the sins of the children of Israel on its 
head. Transferring (in a figure) the iniquities of 
the people on their substitute, he sent it away into 
the wilderness, to bear away the sins of the people 
into the land of forgetfulness. This was a striking 
figure before the eyes of all Israel, of the true atone- 
ment. Now the shadow has fled, and in the light 
of the glorious gospel, we can say, " So Christ was 
once offered to bear the sins of many." John the 
Baptist, when standing on the banks of Jordan, 
with a heavy heart and sad countenance, was preach- 
ing to the multitudes of the evil of sin and the ne- 
cessity of repentance. All at once his face became 
radiant with joy and his hand stretched forth in the 
direction of G-alilee, while his voice broke on their 
ears like the music of heaven — " Behold the Lamb 
of God that taketh away the sins of the world," or 
as Luesden translated it in his latin testament, bear- 
ing the sin of the world. The holy man saw him 
as the substitute of men having their sins transfer- 



SERMONS. 251 

red on Ms head, bearing them away to the land of 
oblivion. And as the prophet Isaiah said in pros- 
pect of what Christ shonld do, in the fullness of 
time, surely he hath borne our griefs and carried 
our sorrows. "And the Lord hath laid on him the 
iniquity of us all." And again, " By his knowledge 
shall my righteous servant justify many, for he 
shall bear their iniquity." And again, "He was 
numbered with the transgressors, and bare the sins 
of many, and made intercession for the transgressors, 
saying, Father, forgive them, for they know not 
what they do." 

The next point that comes under our considera- 
tion is the word many, as it stands in this connec- 
tion. Let us first inquire, who are not included in 
the many, whose sins were borne away by Jesus 
Christ, lest we should run into a labyrinth of in- 
consistencies, as we are apt to do, when we follow 
the light of imperfect reason, instead of adhering 
strictly to the word of God, which is our only un- 
erring guide. Christ did not bear the sins of fallen 
angels ; Christ did not take upon him the nature 
of angels, but the seed of Abraham ; therefore, he 
was not constituted a mediator between God and 
angels, but between God and men. Therefore, the 
angels that sinned bear their own sins, and are 
doomed to bear them forever. Holy angels are not 
included in the many, for they have never sinned. 
Not the unbelieving and wicked men who would 
not have Christ to reign over them. For Jesus 
told all such, "If ye believe not that I am he, ye 



252 SERMONS. 

shall die in your sin, and where I am ye cannot 
come." Therefore, they are not included in the 
many whose sins Christ did bear, for they bear the 
penalty of their own sins. 

All that reject the Saviour, live and die impeni- 
tent, neglect the great salvation, cannot escape the 
due demerit of their transgression. 

Secondly, "Who are included in the many, for 
whom Christ died to bear their sins in his own 
body, on the tree? They are a great multitude 
which no man can number. Redeemed from every 
nation, kindred and tongue, and people. They are 
distinguished by God as his elect, chosen in Christ 
Jesus before the world began. Do you ask, for 
what end ? That they might be holy and without 
blame before him in love ; the flock that the Father 
gave to the Son, as the good Shepherd, to be by 
him redeemed, gathered, protected, and saved. For 
whose redemption he laid down his life, and he de- 
clared that they shall never perish. They are in 
his hand, and in his Father's hand, and none can 
pluck them thence. He died as a Shepherd, and for 
whom should he die in that character ? for his sheep, 
surely, as he said, " I am the good Shepherd. The 
good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." He 
died as a husband, and for whom should he have 
died as such. Let us hear what Paul said on the 
subject. Eph. 5: " Husbands, love yonr wives, 
even as Christ also loved the church, and gave him- 
self for it." That he might sanctify and cleanse it ? 
with the washing of water by the word. That he 



SERMONS, 253 

might present it to himself, a glorious church, not 
having spot or wrinkle. 

Methinks I hear some trembling soul asking, 
with the deepest anxiety, how can I know that I am 
among the number of God's elect. How shall I 
know that God had thoughts of peace toward me, 
who am so insignificant and yet so yile ? 0, did the 
High and Holy one think of me in the counsel of 
peace, and give me as one of his sheep to the good 
Shepherd, to be by him redeemed and gathered 
into his fold ? My brother, I am glad that you feel 
such deep solicitude on this deep and vital subject, 
and I hope that God will help me to give a clear 
solution of the subject that gives you trouble. 

You want to know whether you are one of God's 
elect, and to know whether you were given to Christ. 
Poor soul, God has sent a key from heaven to open 
all the locks that trouble you, but you have neglect- 
ed to use this key, hence your difficulty remains. 
0, my brother, use the key, and the whole mystery 
will be unraveled. 

" And you can read your title clear, 
To mansions in the skies ; 
And bid farewell to every fear, 
And wipe your weeping eyes.'' 

Permit me to ask you a few questions : Do you 
give all diligence to make your calling and election 
sure? Then you are elect; for none but the elect 
do so. 

Do you come by faith to Jesus Christ ? Then you 
may be sure that the Father gave you to his Son. 
11 



254 SERMONS. 

For Jesus said, "All the Father gave me shall come 
unto me, and he that cometh unto me, I shall in no 
wise cast out." 

Do you love the Lord? If so, you may be assured 
that you are not beforehand with God. Hence you 
may safely conclude with the beloved disciple, and 
say, "I love God, because he first loved me." Do 
you work out your own salvation with fear and 
trembling ? If so, it is a certain evidence that God 
is working in you both to will and to do, of his own 
good pleasure; for there is nothing more evident 
than that you cannot work alone, for Jesus said, 
"Without me ye can do nothing." 

Let us look at another mark that distinguishes 
those "Many," whose sins Christ did bear in his own 
body on the tree : "And unto them that look for him 
shall he appear the second time." They look for 
him. "And why do they look for him ? " "Because 
they love him so." O, poor, impenitent sinner, 
you do not look for Jesus ; and the reason is plain, 
for you do not love him. consider the final con- 
sequence ; if any one love not our Lord Jesus Christ 
let him be Anathema, maranatha, accursed at his 
coming. Are these words, or are they daggers? 
Surely they are daggers, designed to make your 
heart bleed for the sin that you love not Jesus. O 
sinner, sinner, love Jesus, there is no time to lose ; 
begin to-day to let the current of your affections 
run into the bosom of him who died that you 
might live. Christians make it the business of 
their lives to look for him as the "Welsh poet sung, 



SERMONS. 255 

"Dyn hep negess dan y nef ond edrych am fy 
Eyw." When they stand, they stand looking for 
the salvation of God. When they walk, they walk 
by faith, and faith is the eye that looketh for Jesus. 
When they run, they run with patience, looking 
unto Jesus. 

Take particular notice : there are places where it 
does not consist with the honor of Christ to go. 
He don't go to the haunts of intemperance ; he 
don't go to the ball-room ; he don't go to the thea- 
tre. Therefore, serious christians never go to those 
places to look for him. The Saviour told us where 
he would be, and there we must look for him and 
expect to find him. In the Bible look for him, for 
he is there; "Search the scriptures, for they ar,e 
they that testify of me." Look for him in the clo- 
set, for there he reveals himself. Look for him in 
the public assemblies of the saints. Look for him 
in the praying circles, even in the little prayer meet- 
ings, which the multitude pass by unnoticed. There 
he has pledged himself to be; "Wheresoever two 
or three are gathered together in my name there 
am I in the midst of them." 

There was a remarkable prayer meeting once held 
in a fiery furnace, yet Christ was as good as his 
word, he was there. The praying men looked for 
him, for he had told them before, "When thou pass- 
est through the fire I will be with thee." True to 
his promise, he was there. 

The King looked into the furnace expecting to 
see nothing but calcined bones ; astonished, he cried 
to his counsellors, "Did not we cast three men 



256 SERMONS. 

bound into the midst of the fire?" True, King. 
And he said, "Lo! I see four men loose, walking 
in the midst of the fire and have no hurt, and the 
form of the fourth is like the Son of God." 

Look for him in the vale of sorrow and in the 
deep floods of afflictions ; surely he has borne our 
griefs and carried our sorrows. He still remembers 
the agonies of Gethseniane, the nails and the cross, 
and is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. 

Soon you will hear him say, lift up your heads 
and look up, and see your salvation draw nigh. 
happy, happy you that look for him. For you he 
shall appear the second time, not as a sin-bearing 
victim, but as your king, to make up his dear-bought 
jewels. 

" Lo ! he comes, with, clouds descending, 
Once for favored sinners slain ; 
Thousand, thousand saints attending, 

Swell the triumph of his train. 
Careless sinner— careless sinner, 
What will then hecome of thee ? " 

In view of that great and terrific day, my impeni- 
tent friend, ask yourself as you go home, What will 
then become of me? 

When the heavens shall pass away with a great 
noise, and the elements melt with fervent heat, the 
earth on fire, and the Judge on the throne, What 
will then become of me ? Ask the question, and 
repeat it again and again, until you shall gain some 
good evidence that you shall stand at the right of 
the Judge at his coming. 

Do not give up the point. Cry to God, 

'• Show me some passage in thy Book, 
Where my salvation stands." 



SEEMON XIV. 

[HIS LAST SERMON ; PREACHED AT NEW MONMOUTH, .JULY 30, 1365.] 



EAETH'S GREAT CHANGE. 

" Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 
But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in 
store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly 
men." 

"Nevertheless, we according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new 
earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. "—2 Peter 3 : 6, 7, 13. 

When the world before the flood perished, all the 
beasts of the field, birds of the air, and human popu- 
lation were destroyed, save the inhabitants of the 
ark. The Lord said to l^oah, " Thee have I seen 
righteous before me in this generation." " All 
flesh had corrupted his way." God looked down 
from heaven and saw that every imagination of the 
thoughts of man's heart was only evil continually. 
The whole mass was corrupt ; there was no redeem- 
ing quality. The evil of the heart was acted out 
without any restraint. There was but one indivi- 
dual in the whole world that ventured to admonish 
them, and him they heeded not. Conscience had 
lost all feeling and her remonstrances ceased. Men 
determined to procure their own destruction, and 
they succeeded. 



258 



SERMONS. 



God's forbearance waited long, in the days of 
Noah, while the ark was preparing, for some amend- 
ment, as loath to strike the fatal blow. After many 
expostulations and expedients, the Lord said, " The 
end of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is 
filled with violence through them, and behold I will 
destroy them with the earth." That destruction was 
effected by the agency of water ; the next shall be 
by the action of fire, and shall be more thorough 
and entire. That did not affect the heavens, but 
this will affect both the heavens and the earth — so 
says the text. Probably the starry heavens are not 
meant, but the lower heavens — the atmosphere sur- 
rounding our earth, whose inflammable gases, with 
the great store of electricity, will be sufficient to 
burn up the atmospheric heavens and melt all the 
elements with fervent heat. It is well ascertained 
that in the centre of the earth there is reserved an 
ocean of liquid fire, broader and deeper than any 
body of water on the globe's surface. The wonder 
is that the earth has been so long preserved from 
universal conflagration. Grod alone chains the rag- 
ing elements in subjection, until the appointed 
hour, when He will withdraw his restraint and set 
them free to execute his righteous judgment on the 
depraved, guilty world. In various places, on the 
face of the earth, his hand has formed volcanos, to 
give vent to subterranean fires, and calm the rage of 
the consuming element for the time. Some of 
these are constantly in action, emitting volumes of 
sulphurous smoke and torrents of burning lava, 



SERMONS. 259 

destroying everything in their course, as they roll 
their lurid waves from the mountain top over the 
devoted plains. Here let us pause and contemplate 
our position. "We stand on a thin shell of earth 
and rock, the restless billows of name heaving be- 
low us impatient for permission to burst their 
bands and reduce this theatre of human rebellion 
to utter ruin. Can we realize our situation un- 
moved ? Can we flatter ourselves with peace and 
safety when dire destruction is at the door? Can 
we still go on in sin when heaven and death com- 
bine to warn us of our danger ? reflect, that the 
long-suffering of God spares us ! Sinner, presume 
not, for God has already endured with much long- 
suffering. His mercy, though great, has its limits, 
when he will be favorable no more, and swear in 
his wrath that the impenitent shall not enter into 
his rest. 

Some will cry fanaticism! and lull themselves to 
sleep in carnal security. But to such we say, if 
some men are fanatics God is not. I refer you to 
Him who cannot deceive or be deceived. The 
Creator has spoken, and his creation furnishes us 
with abundant evidence that He declares the truth, 
when He says that this earth will be given to the 
flame for the sins of its inhabitants. The earth 
groans beneath our guilty feet for deliverance from 
its burden. " For we know that the whole crea- 
tion groan eth and travaileth in pain together until 
now; and not only they, but ourselves also, who 
have the first fruits of the Spirit; even we groan 



260 SERMONS. 

within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, 
the redemption of our body." 

what a groaning world we live in. The earth 
utters her deep groans in the ears of men through 
the mouths of Etna and Vesuvius ; the enslaved 
millions of our race groan under the iron rod of 
the oppressor; God's children groan because of 
their conflict with indwelling sin; every creature, 
subjected by the sin of man, is groaning for de- 
liverance. Only devils and impenitent men make 
a mock of sin, and laugh at the coming calamity, 
now so near. Ah ! their time of sorrow will surely 
come. 

" There will be mourning at the judgment seat of Christ, 
There will be wailing in the world of deep despair." 

Hear what the word of the Lord says of the 
world's destruction and its renovation: " I beheld 
till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of 
clays did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and 
the hair of his head like the pure wool : his throne 
was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning 
fire. A fiery stream issued and ^came forth from 
before him : thousand thousands ministered unto 
him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood be- 
fore him : the judgment was set, and the books 
were opened." — Dan. 7 : 9,10. This description 
needs no explanation. No words can add to its 
lucidness. It describes the brightness of his ap- 
pearance as far as words can set it forth. " Our 
Ood shall come, and shall not keep silence : a fire 



SERMONS. 261 

shall devour before him, and it shall be very tem- 
pestuous round about him. He shall call to the 
heavens from above, and to 'the earth, that he may 
judge his people. Gather my saints together unto 
me ; those that have made a covenant with me by 
sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his right- 
eousness: for God is judge himself. Selah." — Ps. 50 : 
3, 6. Here David, through the Spirit, describes the 
whole process. The fire devouring, the tempest of 
the elements, the heavens passing away, the great 
voice of God calling to the earth — "For behold, 
the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven ; and all 
the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be 
stubble ; and the clay that cometh shall burn them 
up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them 
neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear 
my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with 
healing in his wings: and ye shall go forth, and 
grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread 
down the wicked: for they shall be ashes under the 
soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, 
saith the Lord of hosts." — Malachi 4: 1, 3. 

Before the conflagration, the dead in Christ will 
be raised at the sound of the archangel's voice and 
the trump of God; the pious living will be changed 
and ascend to meet the Lord in the air, far above 
the war of elements; while the bodies of the proud 
and all who do wickedly shall be consumed with 
the earth. Thus the earth will be purified and re- 
newed. "We look for new heavens and a new 
earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." Here 



262 SERMONS. 

Christ, the sun of righteousness, will arise upon 
his people with healing in his beams — healing every 
physical and moral disease. All noxious vapors, 
now so injurious to humanity, will be removed for- 
ever by these healing beams. "And there shall be 
no more curse : l3ut the throne of God and of the 
Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve 
him : And they shall see his face ; and his name 
shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no 
night there; and they need no candle, neither 
light of the sun; for the Lord giveth them light: 
and they shall reign forever and ever." The re- 
deemed sung before, while on their weary pilgrim- 
age, but their songs were mingled with sighs. I^ow 
the ransomed of the Lord have returned to Zion 
with everlasting joy on their heads. They obtained 
joy and gladness; sorrow and sighing have forever 
fled away. Now they begin the new song to cool 
the ardor of their love. Earth renewed; earth res- 
tored to more than primitive glory — refined with 
perfect holiness ! Here Jehovah Jesus shall make 
his abode, and the joyful exclamation shall be heard, 
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and 
he will dwell with them, and they shall be his peo- 
ple, and Gocl himself shall be with them, and be their 
God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their 
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sor- 
row, nor crying, neither shall there be any more 
pain : for the former things are passed away." 
Then and not till then will the earth be full of the 
knowledge of the glory of the Lord. 



SERMONS. 263 

Hear Paul on this great subject. "For this we 
say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we 
which are alive and remain unto the coming of the 
Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven 
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and 
with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ 
shall rise first : Then we which are alive and re- 
main, shall be caught up together with them in the 
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air : and so shall we 
ever be with the Lord. "Wherefore, comfort one 
another with these words.'' — TJiess. 4: 15-18. 

In these verses the Holy Spirit gives us the order 
of proceeding, in that great day. The Lord shall 
descend on a cloud as he ascended, accompanied by 
millions of the just spirits made perfect and hosts 
of mighty angels. The happy spirits of all who 
died in the Lord will He bring with him, from 
righteous Abel to the last who shall fall asleep in 
the faith of Christ, to be reunited to their bodies 
which are now to be raised and made like the glo- 
rious body of the Son of God. 

Thus accompanied, the judge of the whole earth 
shall descend in solemn pomp and indescribable 
grandeur. Every eye shall see him ; they also who 
pierced him shall wail because of him and cry to the 
rocks and mountains to fall upon them, and hide 
them from the presence of him that sitteth on the 
throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. Behold 
another class, who are differently affected at the 
glorious sight. These are the saints living on the 



264 SERMONS. 

earth, wlio have loved and waited for his appearing, 
who have stood upon the watch-tower of expecta- 
tion, and to his announcement — "Lo I come quick- 
ly," they have joyfully responded, amen! even so, 
come Lord Jesus. They will lift up their heads 
with joy, recognizing in the august Judge their 
friend and Redeemer. They will shout with joy, 
behold our God, we have waited for him 8 ; he now 
appears for our salvation. 

Eow there is a sound louder and more terrific 
than ten thousand thunders, whose reverberations 
shake the whole creation. The sun veils his face 
before the superior glory of his Creator ; the old 
earth quakes from centre to circumference at the 
voice of the archangel, and the trump of God. The 
rocks are rending ; the graves of the pious dead are 
opening ; bodies sown in weakness are now raised 
in power : sown in dishonor are now raised in the 
image of their glorious Redeemer. As they leave 
their tombs they ascend to meet their Lord, to be 
forever partners of his "throne. The living saints 
shall witness the resurrection of the dead saints, 
then in a moment, in the twinkling of an e3^e, they 
shall be changed, as Enoch and Elijah were, with- 
out feeling the sting of death; and as they ascend 
they will sing their triumph: 0, death, where is 
thy sting ? while the children of the resurrection 
shall say, 0, grave, where is thy victory? And 
all will unite in the chorus : " Thanks be to God, 
who hath given us the victory, through our Lord 
Jesus Christ." 
Do you inquire, what will be the state of the 



SERMONS. 265 

wicked dead? From Cain to the last impenitent 
sinner who died, their sonls will remain in torment, 
and their bodies in the dust, to be reduced to ashes 
by the coming conflagration. " The rest of the 
dead lived not again until the thousand years were 
finished." 

TVTiat shall be the fate of the wicked who live on 
the earth at the coming of Christ ? 

They will be, as they always have been, in a state 
of careless security, having no fear of God before 
their eyes, putting away the evil day from them, 
and saying, to-morrow shall be as this day, and 
much more abundant, crying, peace and safety un- 
til sudden destruction comes upon them and they 
cannot escape. They will be overtaken in a mo- 
ment ; the day will come upon them as a thief in 
the night. Terror and dismay will overwhelm them 
when they see the earth on fire, the Judge on the 
throne, and themselves unprepared to meet God. 
Isaiah, chap. 24: 19,20, describes the scene of de- 
solation that shall ensue: "The earth is utterly 
broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth 
is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to 
and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like 
a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be 
heavy upon it ; and it shall fall, and not rise again." 

'•Where now, O where shall sinners seek 
For shelter in the general wreck ? 
Shall fallen rocks be o'er theni thrown? 
See,£rocks, like snow, dissolving down. 
Bnt saints, nn daunted and serene, 
Your eyes shall view the dreadful scene ; 
Your Saviour lives, though worlds expire. 
And earth and skies dissolve in fire." 



266 m SERMONS. 

The last point in the text is concerning the reno- 
vated earth. " Nevertheless, we, according to his 
promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, 
wherein dwelleth righteousness." 

Let us search the word to find the promise, that 
after the destruction of the heavens and the earth 
they shall be renewed. The first promise on this 
subject we find recorded in Isaiah 65: 17-19. "For 
behold, I create new heavens and a new earth ; and 
the former shall not be remembered, nor come into 
mind. But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that 
which I create : for behold, I create Jerusalem a 
rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice 
in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice 
of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the 
voice of crying." 

As this is the promise of God it cannot fail of 
fulfillment. Has he said it, and shall he not do it? 
Has he spoken it, and shall he not make it good ? 
Here is something for christians to look for — a 
kingdom which hath foundations, whose builder is 
God. Long expected by patriarchs, and prophets, 
apostles, and martyrs, and by the saints in every age 
and land. Ye humble believers, be joyful, looking for 
that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the 
great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. However 
humble be now your station, then you shall be ex- 
alted as kings and priests unto God and his Father 
and shall reign with him a thousand years. Proba- 
bly this will be the duration of the mediatorial 
reign of the Son of God.— 1 Cor. 15 : 24, "25. " Then 



SERMONS, 267 

cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the 
kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall 
have put down all rule and all authority and power. 
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies un- 
der his feet." At the close of the thousand years, 
when Satan will be loosed, and, in connection with 
the raised myriads of the ungodly, make his last 
attempt to overthrow the kingdom of Christ, he 
will be utterly foiled and his deceived followers 
judged and condemned. Then all things will be 
subdued to Christ. Then shall the Son also be sub- 
ject to him that put all things under him, that God 
may be all in all. Forgive this digression. E"ow 
I shall proceed and quote from the vision that Jesus 
Christ gave to his servant John. — Rev. 21 : 1, 3. 
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the 
first heaven and the first earth were passed away ; 
and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the 
holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God 
out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her 
husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, 
saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 
and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his 
people, and God himself shall be with them, and be 
their God." 

A few words as to the qualities of the new heaven 
and earth; and in this we must confine ourselves to 
the revealed word. 

First — Some qualities of that blessed abode of 
God and his saints : Satan is called the prince of 
the power of the air, the Spirit that now worketh in 



268 SERMONS. 

the children of disobedience. From thence he exerts 
his unholy influence on the children of men. Then 
the atmospheric heaven will be freed from Satanic 
influence. He will then be chained and cast into 
the bottomless pit by Him who is stronger than the 
strong man armed, and will be despoiled of his 
armor with which he tempted and deceived the 
dwellers on earth. 

There will be no unhealthy miasma, no pestilen- 
tial vapors, no deadly gases floating unseen, bearing 
pain and death as at present; no cause left for mel- 
ancholy depression, or to damp the ardor of mental 
vigor. There will be perfect freedom from all phy- 
sical and moral evil. No tears of sorrow aad an- 
guish will be shed, and those which have been shed, 
God, with his soft hand, will wipe away. "And 
there shall be no more death; neither shall there be 
any more pain, for the former things have passed 
away, and he that sat on the throne said, behold 
I make all things new." 

Second — Some qualities of the new earth: These, 
like the former, are many of them expressed by 
negations. Our time is about equally divided be- 
tween light and darkness. There will be perpetual 
day. " Thy sun shall no more go down, neither 
shall thy moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall 
be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy 
mourning shall be ended." 

The natural sun may shine on other orbs, but the 
new world will not need it. " The city had no need 
of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for 



SERMONS. 269 

the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is 
the light thereof." 

If the natural sun will still maintain its position 
in the heavens, the glory of God and the Lamb will 
be so brilliant and overpowering as to eclipse its 
feeble rays, as the sun now quenches the twinkling 
light of the far oif stars. The sun will be divest- 
ed of its glory because of the glory that excelled*. 
Isaiah 24: 23 — " Then the moon shall be confound- 
ed, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts 
shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and 
before his ancients gloriously." 0, brethren, there 
will be no night there ; no physical, mental, spiritual 
darkness. 

•• There we shall see, and hear and know, 
All we desired or wished below ; 
And every power find sweet employ, 
In that eternal world of joy." 

The eyes of Jacob will see clearly the face of 
Joseph, who nourished him so long in Egypt. Yes, 
those dim eyes will be renewed in the resurrection 
of the just, to see the face of his spiritual Joseph 
who provided the bread of life for his soul. O thou 
lovely Lamb of God, wilt thou permit these eyes of 
mine — eyes which have long looked on vanity — to 
see thy dear face ? That face was marred by shame 
and spitting; ashy pale in death; yet faith's eye 
sees through the shame and indignity the glory as 
of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace 
and truth. That grace is all my hope of ever en- 
joying the blessed vision. 



270 SERMONS. 

Another negative quality: — "There was no more 
sea." Does this mean that the sea shall retire from 
the surface to the interior of the new earth, or does 
it indicate the removal of all obstructions to free 
communication? so that the sea shall present no 
barrier to free and uninterrupted intercourse be- 
tween angels and men. 

Have I stated truths in this discourse too wonder- 
ful for the grasp of your faith ? There is nothing 
too great or too wonderful for our wonder-working 
God to perform. If a half century ago I had told 
you that fifty years from that time twenty thousand 
vehicles would run through the United States at 
the rate of forty miles an hour, each conveying 
many passengers, and tons of merchandize, without 
aid from wind or animal power ; or that messages 
of importance would have been conveyed along the 
bottom of the deep from Britain to America, you 
would have asked for my authority, and I should 
have been obliged to confess that I had none. Your 
reply would have been, I don't believe it, and your 
unbelief would have been innocent. But the state- 
ment I have now made is upon God's authority, 
therefore, you cannot disbelieve with impunity. 
The unbelieving eye hath not seen, nor the untaught 
ear heard, nor hath it entered into the unrenewed 
heart, what God hath provided for his faithful fol- 
lowers. 






[From the Examiner, May 19, 1S64.] 

BEDD-DYDDIO. 



Tlie above is the word used by the Welsh from 
time immemorial, for baptize. It is a compound of 
bedd-grave-cbjddio — the clay dawns; for when a be- 
liever is baptized, the light of the resurrection shines 
from the tomb, both to himself and those that wit- 
ness the joyful and solemn rite. God, that brought 
light out of the chaos at first, by the divine ordin- 
ance of baptism, brings light, life and immortality 
from the darkness of the tomb. 

I shall endeavor to give the reason for the origin 
of the word, and its use for eighteen centuries 
among the ancient Britons. 

It is a fact, as well substantiated by tradition as 
any uninspired history of equal antiquity, that the 
gospel was preached in Britain in the year 63, by 
Joseph of Arimathea, who arrived on the coast of 
Cornwall in a Phenician ship, whose merchants vis- 
ited that part of the island to barter their fabrics 
for tin, which then, as now, abounded in that pen- 
insula, and drew the attention of Oriental merchants 
to the place — Joseph, the just and holy man, who 
showed so much love to the Son of God, in the dark- 



272 BEDD-DYDDIO. 

est period of Ms humiliation. He prepared fin< 
linen and sweet spices for his burial, and laid th< 
body that died for our sins in his own preparec 
grave. Jesus in life had no place of. his own to la^ 
his head, and in death he had no grave of his owi 
to receive his body. 

Joseph was not unconcerned about the sacred de 
posit which he laid with so much tender care anc 
affection in his own tomb. He could not long neg 
lect a place, where now his heart had so much ten 
der interest. But, lo ! what a change ! The ston< 
had been rolled away. The grave was empty, an( 
the prisoner of death was honorably released. Jo 
seph's hope, like that of the other disciples, wa; 
feeble before ; but now it attained to a full assurance 
that Jesus was the Christ and the deliverer of Israel 

Now Joseph's love constrained him to go to th< 
ends of the earth (as Britain was then supposed t< 
be) to preach Christ and the resurrection. As som< 
of our poor benighted ancestors were gathered 01 
the shore, bemoaning their sad condition, writhing 
now under the three severest scourges of heaven 
sent to punish men for their sins — famine, pestil 
ence, and the Roman sword, which had laid desolat* 
all of that fair land — they found as others hav< 
done, that the darkest hour is just before the dawr 
of the morning. As they were gazing on the blu< 
sea, a ship hove in sight, with fair wind and swell 
ing sails making for the shore. Some of them were 
greatly alarmed, fearing that another legion of th< 
destroyer of their people were on their way to thei] 



BEDD-DYDDIO. 273 

shore. "Do not," said another, "be alarmed, she 
is a merchant ship seeking lawful traffic. I see the 
Phenician flag floating on the breeze." Ah, little 
did they think of the immense treasure she was 
bearing to their island, to enrich them and their 
posterity through all generations. . 

The missionary of Jesus had no need at that early 
day to spend years to acquire the language of the 
Britons; and he began without delay to preach 
Christ and the resurrection as the Spirit gave him 
utterance. The first thing that impressed the minds 
of the people, was a perfect astonishment to hear a 
stranger speak so clear and distinct the language of 
Gomer, which none but a native is fully able to 
articulate. This made them cry in deep surprise, 
" How hear we this stranger speak to us in our own 
tongue the wonderful works of God?" And they 
took knowledge of him, that he was a messenger 
sent from God, to remove the gloom of sin from 
their benighted minds. He preached the gospe. 
which the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, while 
the angels of God descended to witness the planting 
of the Tree of Life, where the Upas of sin had deso- 
lated the land so long. 

Soon there was shaking, and sighing, and bitter 
weeping among the people, for the word was quick 
and powerful. It was a living word, that worked 
its way into the hearts and consciences of the mul- 
titudes, who in agony of spirit cried, " Sir, what 
shall we do to be saved?" Joseph was no stranger 
to such scenes, for he was at Jerusalem on the day 



274 BEDD-DYDDIO. 

of Pentecost, and knew the direction given there. 
He raised his voice, and said in the words of Peter, 
"Repent, and be baptized every one of yon, in the 
name of Jesns Christ, for the remission of sin, and 
ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Then 
they that gladly received his word stood ready to be 
baptized. 

Let us follow the multitude to the shore, and wit- 
ness the first-fruits of Britain's Baptists. And may 
we not indulge the hope that our fathers and mothers 
were among the obedient on that day? 

He that holds the winds in his fist, and treads 
upon the waves of the sea, said, "Peace, be still!" 
and there was a great calm. Now look at the vener- 
able Arimathean, standing in the water, explaining 
to the people that lined the shore the meaning of 
that divine ordinance that he was about to adminis- 
ter. Stretching his hand over the element, he said 
" This water is an emblem of death, to show that 
we must die unto sin, as many of you profess to be, 
and are ready to be buried with Christ in baptism ; 
as you shall see me lay the believer gently in water, 
as I once laid the lifeless body of my dear Lord and 
your's in the grave." Here he paused awhile, for 
the holy emotion of his tender heart choked his 
utterance. He added, "As the yielding water forms 
an emblematic grave, so the believer is buried with 
Christ in his baptismal tomb. And when ye shall 
see me raise the subject from the watery grave, you 
will see an emblem of the resurrection of Christ, 
by the glory of the Father, and also of your rising 



BEDD-DYDDIO. 275 

to walk in newness of life here, and a pledge of a 
joyful rising from your gloomy grave at the last 
day." 

The grave to all heathen people affords not the 
least ray of light. It emits nothing but darkness 
and despair. Oh, how dark the tomb seemed to 
our benighted ancestors. !N"o hope ; not a ray of 
light ever shone to them from the gloomy caverns 
wherein they laid their dead. Hence the bitter 
wailing of despair heard at their funerals. 

After the man of God had explained the significa- 
tion of the ordinance in the ears of the people, he 
proceeded to perform it before their eyes. Every 
eye was open, and every ear was attentive. He took 
a believer by the hand and said slowly and solemn- 
ly, "My brother, in the name of the Father, and of 
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost I bury thee with 
Christ in baptism, and as Christ was raised from 
the dead, I raise thee from this symbolic grave as a 
pledge of thy resurrection at the last day." The 
Holy Spirit was present to bless the word and ordi- 
nance; and the people were moved and melted by 
his hallowed influence, as others have been on such 
occasions ten thousand times since: — and the whole 
multitude cried in their native tougue, Bedd-dyddio. 

The grave, so dark and dismal to them before, 
was now lit up with the joyful light of the resur- 
rection of life. I can almost hear them sing, as 
they retire from the water, Glory, Glory to God, 
who brought to our eyes and hearts a flood of light 
from the darkness of the tomb. 

Ricevxlle, N. J., May, 1364. THOMAS ROBERTS. 



APPENDAGES OF DEATH AND RESUR- 
RECTION.* 



After death tlie saints will recognize each other 
in the spirit-world. Our acquaintance here is not 
merely with the outward man ; the chief intimacy 
is between loving spirits. "Where the Spirit of 
Christ is discernible it is the tie that binds our 
happy souls in one, and makes us desire a renewal 
of the fellowship, sweet on earth, but much sweeter 
in heaven. There is a longing for it in every 
christian heart ; God has placed it there, and will 
not disappoint their hope. The ministers of Christ, 
who, under God, turned many to righteousness — 
when their work on earth is drawing to a close, and 
their feet dip in Jordan's stream — how now the 
thought buoys up their spirits, that on the other 
side they will see their Saviour, God, and the spirits 
of the just made perfect. When the beloved Webb, 
and Babcock, and Stout, and Fish, and Parmly, and 
Smith, with the other faithful ones shall be called, 
one by one, to cross the river, about the middle of 
the flood, the mist of death will begin to clear 

* This article -was probably written but a few hours before his departure. 
The writing affords evidence of great weakness, and the abrupt close in the 
middle of a sentence indicates physical inability to proceed. 



DEATH AND RESURRECTION. 277 

away and afford them a glimpse of the shining 
shore. A shout is heard from yonder side : Wel- 
come ! welcome ! thou soldier of Jesus. Thy war- 
fare is over ; thy crown is ready, and fitted for thy 
brow. lie sees scores of shining ones lining the 
banks of the land of rest. Come up, thou blessed, 
say they ; come up, thou blessed of the Lord, why 
standest thou in the deep waters ? You will begin 
to discern among them the Spirits of some of your 
good old Deacons gone before you, who stood by 
you, and stayed up your hands, while you fought 
the battle of the Lord ; and scores of others, each 
waving in the celestial breeze the banner of the 
cross, and saying, by this we conquered and in this 
we glory; as thou, under God, hast led us to the 
fountain of grace on earth, we meet thee as the 
crowns of thy rejoicing, to convoy thy happy spirit 
to the throne of GTod and the Lamb. E~ow they 
promenade among the bowers of Paradise ; and as 
you go, you partake, without prohibition, of the 
ambrosial fruit of life's immortal tree. It is re- 
markable that a Christian, whatever else he may 
forget, remembers the day of his espousals to Jesus. 

" Happy day ! Happy day ! 
When Jesus washed my sins away." 

He retains his religious experience, being im- 
pressed that he will have use for it in heaven. It 
will give energy to that part of the grand chorus, 
when all the angelic harps for a moment shall cease 
to sound, that all heaven may hear what the re- 



278 



DEATH AND RESURRECTION. 



deemed millions have to sing. Hear a summary of 
it : "To him who loved us, and washed us from our 
sins in his own blood." O, brethren, that will be a 
great experience-meeting of Pastors and people, 
where associations never disperse and Sabbath never 
ends. See them going, and as they advance, the 
light shines brighter and brighter ; they remember 
that they read while on earth, " They shall see his 
face, and his name shall be in their foreheads, and 
there shall be no night there, and they need no can- 
dle, neither light of the sun, for the glory of Gk)d 
and the Lamb is the light thereof. 

Now they come to the foot of the throne, and 
each says with reverence and profound gratitude — 
here I am and the children thou hast given me as 
the crowns of my rejoicing. 

It is superfluous for me to ask my beloved bre- 
thren : What will you do with all these crowns ? 
Your hearts would respond we'll crown him— Him 
that was crowned with thorns for our sakes ; not 
unto us, not unto us, but thy — 




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